Genseric

(Genseric the Vandal)

390–477

THE VANDALS IN ROME

Genseric was the leader of the Vandals, a barbarian tribe that succeeded in gaining control of huge areas of formerly Roman territory, immediately preceding the collapse of the Western Empire. By the time Genseric was crowned king of the Vandals, in 428 A.D., Rome had already been sacked by the Visigoths, and had lost its territories in Britain and Gaul, but it still held Western Africa, and most islands in the Mediterranean. Due to treachery within the Roman Government, Genseric was allowed to cross over from Spain into Africa, in 429 and immediately proceeded to conquer Roman territory in Africa, including the city of Hippo. The famous Christian theologian Augustine of Hippo died during the siege. He was first allied, with, then later opposed by Boniface, the Roman governor of Africa, but Rome was not powerful enough to withstand the Vandals. Unlike the Visigoths, who were semi-civilized and nominally Christian, the Vandals were utterly merciless, and pillaged Christian churches, and took Roman citizens as slaves. Rome tried to appease Genseric by ceding his holding by treaty, but he continued his conquests and over the next decade captured the city of Carthage, and made raids upon Sicily. He also built a pirate fleet and terrorized the entire Mediterranean.

Still the Roman government did nothing to effectively resist Genseric. But worse was to come. Due to political struggles inside Rome, the weak Emperor Valentinian III had been deposed, and his widow Eudoxia sought revenge by inviting Genseric to come to Rome and restore her family to the throne. He came to Rome, but only to pillage and ruin the city, before returning to his base in Africa. Five years after the sack of Rome, a new emperor did rise to resist Geneseric. Majorian sent a fleet against him, but was rebuffed. By this point it was clear that the Western Empire was utterly incapable of dealing with the menace so the Eastern Emperors, First Leo, then Zeno, raised armies to march against the Vandals, but they all were rebuffed. Genseric maintained all of his holdings in Africa, and lived to see the complete collapse of the Western Empire in 476, a year before his own death.

Key events during the life of Genseric:

Year	Event
428	Declared king of the Vandals.
429	Led followers into Africa, captured large territory.
430	Besieged city of Hippo.
435	Northern Africa ceded to Vandals by treaty.
439	Besieged city of Carthage.
440	Conquered and ransacked Island of Sicily.
455	Invited to conquer Rome by deposed Empress Eudoxia.
460	Defeated expedition sent against him by Majorian.
468	Defeated expedition sent against him by Zeno.
476	Made peace with Zeno, having won control of Roman Africa, Sicily, Sardina, and Corsica
477	Died.

Other Resources

Story Links	Book Links
The Vandal Horde  in	Old Time Tales  by  Lawton B. Evans
End of the Empire of the West  in	The Story of the Romans  by  H. A. Guerber
Genseric the Vandal in	Famous Men of the Middle Ages  by  John H. Haaren
Barbarians Rule in Rome  in	The Story of Europe  by  Henrietta Elizabeth Marshall
Downfall of Rome  in	Historical Tales: Roman  by  Charles Morris
Genseric the Vandal Sacks Rome  in	European Hero Stories  by  Eva March Tappan

Image Links
The Vandals in Rome  in Greatest Nations - Rome	Athenian Ship of War  in Back Matter

Contemporary	Short Biography
Count Boniface	Roman General in charge of African Provinces.
Augustine of Hippo	Greatest Christian theologian of the Middle Ages. Wrote Confessions and City of God.
Valentinian III	Weak Roman Emperor who failed to oppose Genseric.
Eudoxia	Empress. Widow of Valentinian III. Invited Genseric to conquer Rome.
Majorian	Roman Emperor who tried to oppose Genseric.
Leo	Emperor of the East, who outfitted a navy against Geneseric.
Zeno	Followed Leo as Emperor of the East. Also tried to oppose Genseric.