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Gaiseric (also spelled Geiseric or Genseric) was King of the Vandals and the Alans (Alani). In May of 428 he led all of his people from Spain to Africa, where he had evidently been invited by the Roman governor, Bonifacius. The journey resulted in great devastation and when he got there he turned on Bonifacius, defeating him in 430. When joint forces of Eastern and Western Rome were sent against him, he defeated them, as well.
In 435 Gaiseric made a treaty that allowed the Vandals to keep control of Mauretania and part of Numidia and made them foederati of Rome. Four years later he broke the treaty by capturing Carthage. In 442 another treaty gave the Vandals control of Africa, Byzacena, and part of Numidia. With the help of his extraordinary fleet, Gaiseric exercised control over a large portion of the Mediterranean.
When the western Emperor Valentinian III was murdered in 455, Gaiseric reasoned that his treaty with Valentian was void, and he attacked the undefended city of Rome itself. His warriors pillaged the city for two weeks. Later, Gaiseric defeated Majorian and Basiliscus in their attempts to overthrow him.
Important Dates
Captured Carthage: Oct. 19, 439
Sacked Rome: June, 455
Died: Jan. 25, 477
On the Web
Gaiseric
Concise introduction by Mark Furnival at the Dark Age Web.Geiseric
Substantial, well-hyperlinked bio at Wikipedia.
Primary Sources
Procopius of Caesarea: Gaiseric & The Vandal Conquest of North Africa, 406 - 477 CE
H. B. Dewing's translation at Paul Halsall's Medieval Sourcebook.
In Print
The link below will take you to an online bookstore, where you can find more information about the book to help you get it from your local library. This is provided as a convenience to you; neither Melissa Snell nor About is responsible for any purchases you make through these links.
The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians
by J. B. Bury
Related Resources
Early Europe
Directory of sites that offer useful resources for the study of Europe in Late Antiquty, or shortly after the fall of Rome.
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