Sainte Genevieve
When Atilla the Hun threatened paris in 451 St. Genevieve councelled prayer, leading the women in fasting and prayer, and advised against the preparations the men were making for leaving Paris. She prophesized that the place people were planning to go would be destroyed. Atilla learned that the Romans under Aetius, Theodoric the Visigothic King and the Franks were heading towards. As a result Atilla travelled to Orleans from Auxerre instead. The Life of St. Genevieve dates from c. 502.
According to The Life of Ste-Genevieve:
Attila, king of the Huns mounted an expedition against the Gaulois. He traversed the provinces bringing flame and sword , giving himself the name of the Scourge of God which he sought to justify with a thousand atrocities. From the outset of these frightening disasters and at the first news of his arrival the inhabitants of Paris were in the greatest consternation. Far from seeking to defend themselves they thought to retreat with their goods to better fortified positions. But Genevive, animated by the spirit of God, exhorted them to put their faith not in the force of men, but in the protection of he who holds in his hands the fate of kings and who can scatter innumerable armies with a single puff of his breath. She managed to unite the women of the city and to persuade them to join her in the imitation of Judith and Esther and to turn divine anger [against the Huns] through fasting, vigils and prayers. Most followed her advice and closing themselves in the baptistery passed with her several days of such pious exercises.
As far as the men were concerned, she was unable to gain control of their spirit: terror had rendered them deaf to all representations. Finally, seeing that they continued to insist on transporting themselves and their goods elsewhere, Genevive announced in the name of God that the cities where they were intending to go would be destroyed, whereas Paris, through the protection of heaven, would be spared the fury of the enemy.
The king of the Huns, having destroyed Auxerre, as he marched on Paris learned that the Romans, under the leadership of Aetius, were advancing with Theoderic, king of the Visigoths and some of the Franks, in order to block his conquests. Then Attila changed the route of his march and attacked Orleans. The Huns were defeated with a loss of 300,000 men. *