Marcian, born around 392, served as Roman emperor from 450 to 457. Before his rule, he was a personal assistant under commanders Ardabur and Aspar for fifteen years. After Emperor Theodosius II's death in July 450, Aspar backed Marcian for the throne. Marcian married Pulcheria, Theodosius' sister, following negotiations, and he officially became emperor on August 25, 450.

During his reign, Marcian made significant changes in dealing with the Huns led by Attila. He canceled all treaties and stopped subsidy payments. In 452, when Attila attacked Roman Italy, Marcian's expeditions into the Great Hungarian Plain, along with famine and plague in northern Italy, forced Attila to retreat from the Italian peninsula after receiving bribes from the Western Roman Empire.

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