The city of Aquileia was founded by the Romans in 181 BC as a military settlement. It became one of the largest cities of the Roman Empire and a trading center between Central Europe and the Mediterranean. In 452 the city was destroyed by the Huns under Attila. Later, the city of Venice took over the role of trading center in the region. The origins of the Basilica dates back to the early 4th century, and the current building dates from 1031. Aquileia was the seat of a Patriarchate until 1751.