Known as the Scourge of God, Attila the Hun (c. 406-453) terrified the eastern and western Roman Empires as he led his armies on a campaign of destruction and conquest.

He also terrified people for other reasons. Contemporary accounts of his personal appearance depict him as “an extremely short man, built like an ogre, who was so hideous that he was ‘human and yet not.'” He was described as having a bulbous head, flat nose, moist nostrils, beady eyes, and thin beard.

History is silent as to whether he made up for these physical deficiencies with a marvelous singing voice or skillful dance moves.