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.

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.

426

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

428 - 439

Genseric / Gaiseric

Brother of Gunderic.

429 - 439

Under pressure from the newly settled Visigoths, the Vandals and Alans move south from Iberia and invade Roman North Africa.

Kings of the Vandals and the Alans

Ruling the North African coast. As ardent Arian Christians, they persecuted Roman Catholic Christians in North Africa, especially during the later years of the reign of Huneric.

435 - 439

The Vandals become a federate kingdom of Rome. In 439, Gaiseric captures Roman Carthage and throws off Roman control. An independent autocracy is formed which governs modern Tunisia and north-eastern Algeria. Eventually, they also annexe Sardinia, Corsica and Sicily, and control the western Mediterranean.

439 - 477

Genseric / Gaiseric

Sacked Rome in 455.

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 until it is conquered by the Islamic Empire in 698.