Vandal conquest of Roman Africa

Last updated

Vandalic conquest of Roman Africa
Part of fall of the Western Roman Empire
Vandals Migration pt.gif
Vandalic Migration and conquest of North Africa
Date429–435, 439–442
Location
Africa Proconsularis and Mauretania, Western Roman Empire
ResultFirst Phase:
Military stalemate
Vandals seize Mauretania
Second Phase:
Vandalic victory
Vandals finalize their conquest
Belligerents
Vandals and Alans
Rebelling Berbers 		Western Roman Empire
Eastern Roman Empire
Foederati Berbers
Commanders and leaders
Geiseric
Huneric
Gento 		Bonifatius
Aspar
Marcian  (POW)
Strength
~80,000 total people
(Procopius's estimate)
~20,000 warriors
(modern estimates)		 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown, but high

The Vandal conquest of Roman Africa, also known as the Vandal conquest of North Africa, was the conquest of Mauretania Tingitana, Mauretania Caesariensis, and Africa Proconsolaris by the migrating Vandals and Alans. The conflict lasted 13 years with a period of four years of peace, and led to the establishment of the Vandal Kingdom in 435. [1]

Contents

Background

The Roman Empire had been in a state of decline by the beginning of the fourth century, and divided into two since 395. [2] [3] [4] During this time, North Africa had remained relatively stable, although beginning in the third and fourth century various Nomadic Berber, mainly Gaetuli, tribes from the Sahara had executed increasing pressure on the Roman provinces in Northwest Africa, often occupying parts of it, and weakening Roman rule over the region, although the fertile heartlands had remained under stable Roman rule throughout. [5] Meanwhile, starting in the late third century, the Romans had come increasingly into conflicts with the migrating Vandals, and East Germanic tribes, speaking the Vandalic language. [6] In 405 the Vandals crossed the Rhine along with various other Germanic tribes, and devastated Gaul. [7] Crossing through the Pyrenees in 409, the Vandals first settled along with the Iranic Alans as Roman foederati in the region of Asturias, and some of the Silingi Vandals in the region of Hispania Baetica. In 419 the Vandals and Alans were defeated by the allied forces of the Western Roman Empire and the Suebi at the battle of the Nervasos Mountains, forcing the Vandals and Alans to abandon their territories, and their king, Gunderic, to flee to Baetica. In 422 Vandalic king Gunderic defeated the Romans at the Battle of Tarraco, and in 425 proceeded to sack much of Hispania. [6] In 428 Gunderic died, and was succeeded by Geiseric, who possibly at the invitation of Bonifatius, Roman governor of the region, crossed into Africa. [8]

The invasion

The invasion began in 429, and the Vandals first set foot on the continent in modern day Morocco, Tingi, after crossing the Strait of Gibraltar. [9] [10] From there they rapidly swept east, defeating any resistance the weakened Roman army in the region could set up. [10] Bonifatius, immediately started amassing an army to push them back (this contradicts the claim of later writer Jordanes who claimed that Bonifatius invited the Vandals).

The battle near Calama and the siege of Hippo

By 430 the Vandals had taken everything in Mauretania and started pushing into the region of Numidia. There, Bonifatius confronted the Vandals at the Battle of Calama, where the Vandals inflicted a severe defeat on him, [11] after which the Vandals pushed to the boundaries of modern Algeria and began the siege of Hippo Regius, during which famous Christian saint Augustine of Hippo would die, probably succumbing to an illness. [12] After 14 months of siege, the Vandals would be forced to lift the siege thanks to the attack of Bonifatius, now reinforced by Eastern Roman contingents led by Aspar. [12]

The arrival of Aspar and the departure of Bonifatius

In 432 Bonifatius left for Rome where he was appointed Magister militum of the western armies, a position which he wanted to use to retake Africa, his power base for nearly a decade by that point. [13] After leaving Africa, Bonifatius would soon die at the hand of his rival Flavius Aetius at the battle of Rimini. In 432, Aspar was yet again defeated in the region of Hippo Regius, where according to some sources Marcian, future emperor of Rome, was caught by the Vandals. [12]

Peace and resumption of the conquest

Despite this, a sort of stalemate formed in the region, and on 11 February 435 the Vandals signed a peace treaty with the Romans at Hippo Regius, agreeing to be Foederati in return for seizing all of Mauretania Tingitana, Mauretania Caesariensis, and Numidia. [14] [15] The Vandals throughout the six years of war destroyed Altava (which was later rebuilt, and established as the capital of the Berber Kingdom of Altava), and devastated Tasacora, Portus Magnus, Thagaste, Sicca Veneria, Cartennae, Caesarea, Icosium, Auzia, Sitifis, Cirta, Calama, Thuburbo Majus, [16] and Rusadir. [17] In turn for the peace, Geiseric also had to give up Huneric, his son, to the Romans as a hostage for a short period of time. [18]

The peace did not last for long, in 439 a new war began when the Vandals attacked Carthage without a declaration of war, and took the city without any resistance. [19] [20] The conquest did not stop, as naval war ensued between the Vandals and the Western Romans, although this would end after the Vandals landed armies in Sicily and signed a peace treaty with the Romans in 442. [6] [21]

Related Research Articles

The 430s decade ran from January 1, 430, to December 31, 439.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vandals</span> East Germanic tribe

The Vandals were a Germanic people who first inhabited what is now southern Poland. They established Vandal kingdoms on the Iberian Peninsula, Mediterranean islands, and North Africa in the fifth century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauretania</span> Region in the ancient Maghreb

Mauretania is the Latin name for a region in the ancient Maghreb. It stretched from central present-day Algeria westwards to the Atlantic, covering northern present-day Morocco, and southward to the Atlas Mountains. Its native inhabitants, of Berber ancestry, were known to the Romans as the Mauri and the Masaesyli.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hippo Regius</span> Ancient name for the modern city of Annaba, Algeria

Hippo Regius is the ancient name of the modern city of Annaba, Algeria. It historically served as an important city for the Phoenicians, Berbers, Romans, and Vandals. Hippo was the capital city of the Vandal Kingdom from 435 to 439 AD. until it was shifted to Carthage following the Vandal capture of Carthage (439).

Foederati were peoples and cities bound by a treaty, known as foedus, with Rome. During the Roman Republic, the term identified the socii, but during the Roman Empire, it was used to describe foreign states, client kingdoms or barbarian tribes to which the empire provided benefits in exchange for military assistance. The term was also used, especially under the empire, for groups of "barbarian" mercenaries of various sizes who were typically allowed to settle within the empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bonifatius</span> Roman general (d. 432)

Bonifatius was a Roman general and governor of the diocese of Africa. He campaigned against the Visigoths in Gaul and the Vandals in North Africa. An ally of Galla Placidia, mother and advisor of Valentinian III, Bonifacius engaged in Roman civil wars on her behalf against the generals Felix in 427-429 and Aetius in 432. Although he defeated the latter at the Battle of Rimini, Bonifacius suffered a fatal wound and was succeeded by his son-in-law Sebastianus as patricius of the Western Roman Empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauretania Tingitana</span> Roman Province

Mauretania Tingitana was a Roman province, coinciding roughly with the northern part of present-day Morocco. The territory stretched from the northern peninsula opposite Gibraltar, to Sala Colonia and Volubilis to the south, and as far east as the Mulucha river. Its capital city was Tingis, which is the modern Tangier. Other major cities of the province were Iulia Valentia Banasa, Septem, Rusadir, Lixus and Tamuda.

Gaiseric, also known as Geiseric or Genseric was king of the Vandals and Alans from 428 to 477. He ruled over a kingdom and played a key role in the decline of the Western Roman Empire during the 5th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Altava</span>

Altava was an ancient Romano-Berber city in present-day Algeria. It served as the capital of the ancient Berber Kingdom of Altava. During the French presence, the town was called Lamoriciere. It was situated in the modern Ouled Mimoun near Tlemcen.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vandal Kingdom</span> Germanic Kingdom in North Africa

The Vandal Kingdom or Kingdom of the Vandals and Alans was a confederation of Vandals and Alans, which is one of the barbarian kingdoms established under Gaiseric, a Vandal warrior. It ruled in North Africa and the Mediterranean from 435 to 534 AD.

Masuna or Massonas was a Berber from what is now western Algeria who was said to have been a Christian, he ruled the Mauro-Roman Kingdom with its capital based in Altava which is now in present-day Algeria around the Tlemcen area. He was able to maintain the independence of his kingdom by resisting occupation from the Vandals. King Masuna allied with the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian and assisted him in a war against the Vandals in 533 and also against other invading Berber tribal confederations. During his reign he was obeyed by the tribes of Mauretania.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of the Nervasos Mountains</span>

The Battle of the Nervasos Mountains occurred in the year 419 and was fought between a coalition of Suebi, led by King Hermeric together with allied Roman Imperial forces stationed in the Province of Hispania, against the combined forces of the Vandals and Alans who were led by their King Gunderic. This battle occurred in the context of a contemporary Germanic invasion of the Iberian Peninsula. The battle took place in what is today the Province of León, Spain, and resulted in a Roman/Suebian Victory.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rapidum</span>

Rapidum was a Roman settlement and fort located in Mauretania Caesariensis, nearly 100 km south of Icosium (Algiers).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Byzantine North Africa</span> Historical period (6th-8th c.)

Byzantine rule in North Africa spanned around 175 years. It began in the years 533/534 with the reconquest of territory formerly belonging to the Western Roman Empire by the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire under Justinian I and ended during the reign of Justinian II with the conquest of Carthage (698) and the last Byzantine outposts, especially Septem (708/711), in the course of Islamic expansion.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kingdom of Altava</span>

The Kingdom of Altava was an independent Christian Berber kingdom centered on the city of Altava in present-day northern Algeria. The Kingdom of Altava was a successor state of the previous Mauro-Roman Kingdom which had controlled much of the ancient Roman province of Mauretania Caesariensis. During the reign of Kusaila, it extended from Volubilis in the west to the Aurès and later Kairaouan and the interior of Ifriqiya in the east. This Kingdom collapsed following Eastern Roman military campaigns to decrease its influence and power after Garmul invaded the Exarchate of Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mauro-Roman Kingdom</span> Early medieval Christian Romano-Berber state

The Mauro-Roman kingdom, also described as the kingdom of Masuna, was a Christian Berber kingdom which dominated much of the ancient Roman province of Mauretania Caesariensis from the capital city of Altava. Scholars are in disagreement about whether the polity aimed for independence as a kingdom or was part of a loose confederation, an alternative hypothesis drawn from contextual knowledge about Berber tribal alliances. In the fifth century, Roman control over the province weakened and Imperial resources had to be concentrated elsewhere, notably in defending the Roman Italy itself from invading Germanic tribes. Moors and Romans in Mauretania came to operate independently from the Empire. However, regional leaders may not have necessarily felt abandoned by the Romans.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Capture of Carthage (439)</span> Vandal capture of a Roman North African city

Carthage was captured by the Vandals from the Western Roman Empire on 19 October 439. Under their leader Genseric, the Vandals crossed the Strait of Gibraltar into Africa and captured Hippo Regius in August 431, which they made the capital of their kingdom. Despite an uneasy peace with the Romans, Genseric made a surprise attack against Carthage in October 439. After capturing Carthage, the Vandals put the city to the sack and made it the new capital of their kingdom.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Battle of Calama</span> Battle between West Roman Empire and Vandals

The Battle of Calama was fought between the West Roman Empire and the Vandals in the war known as the Vandalian conquest of North-Africa. The battle took place in May 430 near the city Calama. The Roman army under command by comes Africae Bonifatius tried to stumble here the advance of the Vandals who crossed before the strait of Gibraltar under the leadership of King Geiseric.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vandal War (439-442)</span> 439–442 West Roman Empire and the Vandals military battle

The Vandal War (439-442) was a military conflict between the West Roman Empire and the Vandals that was fought in the western Mediterranean Sea region. The main protagonists in this conflict were the Vandal king Geiseric and the commander-in-chief of the Roman army Aëtius.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roman civil war of 432</span>

The Roman Civil War (432) was a military conflict between the Roman generals Aëtius and Bonifatius during the reign of Emperor Valentinian III. This war took place on Italian soil and was decided in the Battle of Rimini. Despite Aëtius losing the battle, the civil war ended in his favor, because Bonifatius was wounded in battle and eventually died of his injuries.

References

  1. ↑ Ward-Perkins, Bryan; Whitby, Michael (2000). The Cambridge Ancient History. Vol. 14. Late antiquity: empire and successors, A.D. 425 - 600. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-0-521-32591-2.[ clarification needed ]
  2. ↑ I. E. S. Edwards; C. J. Gadd; N. G. L. Hammond; John Boardman; David M. Lewis; F. W. Walbank, eds. (1970–2005). The Cambridge Ancient History (Third ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN   0-521-85073-8. OCLC   121060.[ clarification needed ]
  3. ↑ Phang, Sara Elise; Ph.D, Iain Spence; Ph.D, Douglas Kelly; Ph.D, Peter Londey (27 June 2016). Conflict in Ancient Greece and Rome: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia [3 volumes]: The Definitive Political, Social, and Military Encyclopedia. ABC-CLIO. ISBN   978-1-61069-020-1.
  4. ↑ Patricios, Nicholas N. (24 April 2014). The Sacred Architecture of Byzantium: Art, Liturgy and Symbolism in Early Christian Churches. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-0-7556-9399-3.
  5. ↑ Minets, Yuliya (9 December 2021). The Slow Fall of Babel: Languages and Identities in Late Antique Christianity. Cambridge University Press. ISBN   978-1-108-83346-2.
  6. 1 2 3 Merrills, Andrew; Miles, Richard (23 December 2009). The Vandals. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN   978-1-4443-1808-1.
  7. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Vandals"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 27 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  8. ↑ Day, Alan (July 2001). "The Cambridge Ancient History, Vol. XIV". Reference Reviews (Review). 15 (7): 43–44. doi:10.1108/rr.2001.15.7.43.400. ISSN   0950-4125.
  9. ↑ Hutt, Graham (1 January 2019). North Africa. Imray, Laurie, Norie and Wilson Ltd. ISBN   978-1-84623-883-3.
  10. 1 2 Hamilton, Richard (27 June 2019). Tangier: From the Romans to The Rolling Stones. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-78672-647-6.
  11. ↑ Merrony, Mark (6 July 2017). The Plight of Rome in the Fifth Century AD. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-351-70278-2.
  12. 1 2 3 Hughes, Ian (2012). Aetius: Attila's nemesis. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen & Sword Military. ISBN   978-1-78346-134-9. OCLC   854585766.
  13. ↑ Wijnendaele, Jeroen W. P. (18 December 2014). The Last of the Romans: Bonifatius - Warlord and comes Africae. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN   978-1-78093-847-9.
  14. ↑ Syvänne, Ilkka (19 September 2020). Military History of Late Rome 425–457. Pen and Sword Military. ISBN   978-1-4738-7217-2.
  15. ↑ Mavor, William Fordyce (1805). Universal History, Ancient and Modern: From the Earliest Records of Time, to the General Peace of 1801 ... Isaac Collins and sons.
  16. ↑ Merrills, Andrew (2 March 2017). Vandals, Romans and Berbers: New Perspectives on Late Antique North Africa. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-351-87610-0.
  17. ↑ The Encyclopedia Americana. Grolier Incorporated. 2002. ISBN   978-0-7172-0135-8.
  18. ↑ Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Hunneric"  . Encyclopædia Britannica . Vol. 13 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.
  19. ↑ Previté-Orton, C. W. (24 July 1975). Cambridge Medieval History, Shorter: Volume 1, The Later Roman Empire to the Twelfth Century. CUP Archive. ISBN   978-0-521-20962-5.
  20. ↑ Hodgkin, Thomas (1892). Italy and Her Invaders: The Hunnish invasion. The Vandal invasion and the Herulian mutiny. 1880. Clarendon Press.
  21. ↑ Burns, J. Patout; Jensen, Robin M. (30 November 2014). Christianity in Roman Africa: The Development of Its Practices and Beliefs. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4674-4037-0.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.