European Kingdoms

The Vandals

The Vandals, or Vandale, originated in Hungary, before the Hunnish invasion. Their kingdom was situated on the western border of the Visigoths. The arrival of the Huns forced them to flee westwards, towards the Roman empire.

277

Vandals and Burgundians who had crossed the Rhine to invade the Roman empire are defeated by Emperor Probus and are resettled in Britannia.

395 - 408

For the first part of his reign, Emperor Honorius depends on the military leadership of his chief ministers, the Romano-Vandal general, Stilicho. Stilicho had been appointed as Honorius' guardian by the boy's father, shortly before his death.

bef c.400 - 428

Gonderic / Gunderic

King of the Asding Vandals.

407 - 409

The Vandals cross the Rhine at Mainz in 407 in association with the Suevi & Alans. They are attacked by the Franks and face defeat until the Alans come to their aid.

After an initial attempt to settle in southern Gaul, all three tribes move to Spain by 409, disrupting the Gallic empire of Constantine III. According to Roman reports, the Vandals lead the devastation of areas of Gaul and Spain, earning themselves a reputation which has survived to this day.

? - 415

Fredbal

King of the Siling Vandals.

415 - 417

There is a succeeding Siling Vandal ruler, whose name is unknown. The remaining rulers are Asding successors. The Siling Vandals are dissipated by warfare against Roman allies (the Visigoths) and merge under Asding control. They control the former Roman provinces of Lusitania and Baetica (the latter of which includes the city of Gades).

426

The Alans, weakened by the attacks of Roman allies (the Visigoths again), merge with the Vandals.

428 - 439

Genseric / Gaiseric

Brother of Gunderic. Became king of the Vandals and Alans.

429

Under pressure from the newly settled Visigoths, the Vandals and Alans move south from Iberia and invade Roman North Africa, taking the cities of Carthage and Utica.

Kings of the Vandals and the Alans

The Vandals took a section of the rich North African coast in AD 429, and proceeded to conquer much of the rest of it piecemeal. In 435, the Vandals become a federate kingdom of Rome, but they didn't stop there. Carthage itself, the capital of the province of Africa Proconsularis, was conquered along with Utica in 439 (the Vandals simply walking into the city while the populace were occupied with a day of games), and Roman control was thrown off. This was a massive blow for Rome, as it was exporting vast amounts of grain from the region in order to feed the populace of Italy, and that of Rome itself. However, Rome's assembled invasion force was swiftly redirected to try and deal with the much greater threat posed by the Huns in Europe, and Genseric was recognised as the ruler of much of North Africa, and one of the most powerful men of his time.

An independent autocracy was formed by Genseric which governed modern Tunisia and north-eastern Algeria. Eventually, the Vandals also annexed Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily, and controlled the western Mediterranean. As ardent Arian Christians, they persecuted Roman Catholic Christians in North Africa, especially during the later years of the reign of Huneric.

439 - 477

Genseric / Gaiseric

Conquered Africa Proconsularis in 439. Sacked Rome in 455.

477

By the time of Genseric's death at about the age of eighty, the Roman empire has disappeared, financially crippled by the loss of North Africa and beset by barbarians grabbing imperial territory all around it.

An interpretation of Genseric's sack of Rome in AD 455 by Kark Briullov

477 - 484

Huneric

484 - 496

Gunthamund

496 - 523

Thrasamund

523 - 530

Hilderic

Son of Huneric.

530 - 534

Gelimer

Usurper.

533 - 534

Hilderic had been a close friend of the Byzantine emperor Justinian. In response to Gelimer's usurpation, General Belisarius is sent to North Africa with an army. In one campaigning season, the Vandals are conquered. Some of the Vandal leaders are allowed to retire on their estates in different parts of Italy. The rest of the Vandals seem to disappear into the local population and their language dies out. North Africa remains firmly in Roman hands as the exarchate of Africa, until it is conquered by the Islamic empire.