In a bold move to reclaim lost territories, the Eastern Roman Empire, under Emperor Justinian, launched a significant military expedition against the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa. This mission, aimed at restoring Roman control and religious orthodoxy, was entrusted to the capable general Flavius Belisarius. Known for his previous victories, Belisarius was tasked with leading a force of 177,000 soldiers and nearly 600 ships from Constantinople to North Africa.
During the fifth century, as the Western Roman Empire crumbled under barbarian invasions, the Vandals emerged as a formidable adversary. Under King Gaiseric, they established a kingdom in North Africa and even sacked Rome in 455 AD. Despite a period of uneasy peace with the Eastern Romans, a coup in 530 AD saw Gimer, a warrior and cousin to the former king, seize power in the Vandal Kingdom.
Emperor Justinian, determined to reclaim the Western Empire, saw an opportunity to strike against the Vandals. Despite warnings from his advisers about the risks of such a campaign, Justinian pressed on, motivated by both religious zeal and the promise of economic gain. Belisarius, reinstated as General of the East, was given full command of the operation.
Belisarius’s army, though not vast, was composed of seasoned veterans. His forces included infantry, cavalry, and Hunnic mercenaries, all under the leadership of trusted officers. Accompanied by his wife Antonina, who proved to be a valuable ally, Belisarius set sail in June 533. Discipline was paramount, as demonstrated when two mercenaries were executed for murder, reinforcing the importance of justice within the ranks.
Upon reaching North Africa, Belisarius landed near Carthage, the Vandal capital. Despite initial challenges, such as theft by his troops, he maintained strict discipline to win the support of the local population. His strategy paid off, as the Libyan people welcomed the Romans, allowing them to advance unopposed towards Carthage.
As Belisarius advanced, the Vandals, led by Gimer, attempted to regroup and counter the Roman forces. However, a series of tactical maneuvers and skirmishes saw the Vandals repeatedly outmatched. Belisarius’s forces, including his cavalry led by John of Armenia, successfully repelled Vandal attacks, culminating in the capture of Carthage.
The decisive battle occurred at Triamarum, where the Romans, despite being caught off guard, managed to defeat the Vandals. Gimer fled, and the Vandal camp was overrun. Belisarius’s victory was swift and comprehensive, with minimal Roman losses. The Vandal Kingdom, once a powerful entity, was dismantled in a matter of months.
Belisarius returned to Constantinople with vast spoils and prisoners, including King Gimer. His triumph was celebrated with a grand parade, a rare honor for someone other than an emperor. Despite his success, Belisarius faced envy and political intrigue within the empire, foreshadowing future challenges.
The Vandalic War, as it came to be known, was a testament to Belisarius’s strategic acumen and leadership. His campaign not only restored Roman control over North Africa but also demonstrated the power of discipline and diplomacy. However, as history would show, Belisarius’s journey was far from over, with new trials awaiting him.
Special thanks to Legend Arian for the Total War: Attila gameplay footage and to Professor David Parnell for his expertise. The support of Epic History TV’s Patreon community made this educational exploration possible.
Delve into the military strategies employed by Belisarius during the conquest of the Vandals. Prepare a presentation that highlights his tactical maneuvers, leadership qualities, and the role of discipline in his army. Present your findings to the class, focusing on how these strategies contributed to his success.
Engage in a debate on the justification of Emperor Justinian’s campaign against the Vandals. Form two groups, one supporting the campaign for its religious and economic motives, and the other opposing it due to the risks and potential consequences. Use historical evidence to support your arguments.
Participate in a role-playing exercise where you assume the roles of key figures in Belisarius’s expedition, such as Belisarius, Antonina, and John of Armenia. Reenact the journey to North Africa, focusing on the challenges faced and the decisions made during the expedition.
Create a detailed map tracing the path of Belisarius’s conquest from Constantinople to Carthage. Highlight key locations, battles, and strategic points. Analyze how geography influenced the campaign’s outcomes and discuss your findings with the class.
Write an essay exploring the legacy of the Vandalic War and its impact on the Eastern Roman Empire. Discuss how Belisarius’s victory influenced subsequent military campaigns and the political landscape of the empire. Share your essay with peers for feedback and discussion.
Here’s a sanitized version of the provided YouTube transcript:
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A major Eastern Roman expeditionary force, consisting of 177,000 soldiers and nearly 600 ships, prepares to leave Constantinople. Its objective is the kingdom of the Vandals in North Africa, which were once some of the wealthiest provinces in the Roman Empire until they were lost to barbarian invasions. Now, the Romans are returning. Emperor Justinian intends to liberate the people of North Africa from barbarian rule and heretical beliefs. He entrusts this mission to Flavius Belisarius, the victor of Dara, who recently saved the regime by quelling an internal revolt. He will now lead Eastern Roman forces in the emperor’s campaign to reclaim the West.
When the Western Roman Empire was overrun by barbarians in the fifth century, the Vandals emerged as one of Rome’s most enterprising enemies. They marched through Roman territory into Spain and crossed into North Africa in 429 under King Gaiseric, where he founded a kingdom and engaged in piracy. In 455, Gaiseric famously sacked Rome itself.
Seventy-five years later, the Eastern Romans and Vandals had learned to tolerate each other. Emperor Justinian’s relations with the Vandal King Hilder were cordial; they exchanged gifts, and although Justinian regretted Hilder’s Arian beliefs, he appreciated that Hilder allowed Orthodox Christians in his realm to live in peace. However, in 530 AD, a coup in the Vandal Kingdom saw Gimer, Hilder’s cousin, seize power and imprison the ex-king. Unlike his predecessor, Gimer was a proven warrior. When Justinian scolded him for being an usurper, Gimer warned the emperor to mind his own affairs and even blinded one of Hilder’s nephews.
Three years later, after surviving the Nika riots, Justinian decides it’s time to teach Gimer a lesson. Imperial propaganda and historian Procopius later portray Justinian’s war on the Vandals as part of a long-held plan to reconquer the Western Empire for the sake of true belief in God and the liberty of subjects. Modern historians are more skeptical, suggesting that Justinian needs a victory to bolster his regime, and the recovery of North Africa’s wealthy estates will bring obvious benefits.
Many try to dissuade the emperor. His senior adviser, John of Cappadocia, warns of the hazards and costs of a long-range seaborne operation. His generals are haunted by the fate of the last Roman expedition to North Africa, where a huge fleet was destroyed by Vandal fire ships off Cape Bon. Nevertheless, Justinian is undeterred and orders the fleet and army to assemble at Constantinople. Belisarius, restored to the rank of Magister Militum per Orientem (General of the East), is given complete authority over the campaign.
His force includes 10,000 infantry under John of Dakum, 5,000 cavalry divided between federate and regular Roman units, and 600 Hunnic mercenaries, along with Belisarius’s own Bukarian troops, totaling around 1,000 men. An old comrade, John of Armenia, will be his second-in-command, and Solomon, a eunuch, will serve as his chief staff officer. While it is not a large army, most are hardened veterans from previous wars in the East. Belisarius is accompanied by his wife, Antonina, which provokes comments from conservative Romans but is generally accepted. She proves to be an insightful and effective ally to her husband.
The fleet sets sail in June 533. Belisarius believes that much will depend on the discipline of his men. However, before they have even cleared the Hellespont, two Hunnic mercenaries drunkenly murder a comrade. Belisarius has them hanged in full view of the fleet and then addresses the army, emphasizing that justice is their greatest ally in obtaining victory. He warns them that he will not tolerate any crimes and concludes that he will not consider anyone his comrade unless their hands are clean.
The fleet continues its voyage, making stops to pick up supplies and additional troops along the way. Unfortunately, 500 men die from eating moldy bread, which Procopius blames on cost-cutting measures by John of Cappadocia. In Sicily, Belisarius receives fresh supplies from the Goths. He learns that the Vandals are completely unaware of his expedition, as Gimer has sent his brother, Zazo, with most of the Vandal fleet and 5,000 troops to quell a revolt in Sardinia.
Belisarius decides to land in the Vandal heartland, within striking distance of their capital, Carthage. The landing is unopposed, but Belisarius is furious when some of his men steal from the locals. He punishes them and warns his troops that lawlessness will lose them the support of the people and lead to defeat. With good behavior, they will have God on their side, and the Libyan people will support them.
Belisarius orders some of his most trusted men to infiltrate a nearby town to see if the locals will side with the Romans. The soldiers enter discreetly at dawn and inform local elders that Belisarius has come to overthrow Gimer and restore their freedom. The townsmen agree to let the army into the city and open the market to them. Belisarius is gracious and generous to the Libyans, and his men behave well, paying for supplies and winning the trust of the locals.
Procopius, an eyewitness, records that from this point onward, the campaign feels like moving through their own country. Belisarius begins his advance along the coastal road to Carthage, knowing Gimer is somewhere inland and could strike from almost any direction. He orders John of Armenia to take 300 Bukarians and scout two miles ahead of the main army, while Belisarius commands a strong rearguard. The Huns are posted as a flank guard two miles inland, and their sea flank is protected by the fleet keeping pace with the army’s advance.
The army marches about ten miles each day and fortifies a camp at night. When Gimer receives news of the Roman landing, he sends a message to his brother Amatus in Carthage, instructing him to execute Hilder and gather all his men to ambush Belisarius’s army at Adum, ten miles south of Carthage. Here, the coastal road passes through a narrow gap between a salt marsh and the sea. Gimer knows Belisarius will have to pass this way, and that the headland of Cape Bon will separate him from his fleet.
Amatus arrives at Adum with just a handful of troops, having come too early. The rest of his men are still on the road to Carthage. John and the Bukarians charge Amatus, who fights bravely but is ultimately cut down. The surviving Vandals flee back towards Carthage, and John and his men pursue them. Groups of Vandals, seeing the fleeing horsemen, panic and join the retreat. Meanwhile, the Huns encounter Gimer’s column, and when the Huns charge, the Vandals quickly turn and flee.
Belisarius is unaware that battle has been joined but sends his federate cavalry forward, expecting skirmishing with the Vandals. When his cavalry reach Adum, they see signs of fighting and bodies. Several thousand Vandal horsemen appear behind them, and the federate commanders are unsure whether to advance or retreat. After a brief clash, the entire force retreats back towards the Roman camp.
Gimer, upon discovering the body of his brother Amatus, is overcome with grief. As he oversees his brother’s burial, his perplexed troops look on and do nothing. Belisarius is given a crucial breathing space; he rallies his cavalry, reorganizes them, and leads them forward. The Roman cavalry falls on the Vandals with devastating force, scattering the enemy. Gimer and the survivors flee west, leaving the road to Carthage open.
Belisarius waits until dawn the next day before making his triumphant entry into Carthage. His troops behave well, and the citizens of Carthage are respected. This peaceful occupation of such a wealthy city during tumultuous times is remarkable. Belisarius sits on Gimer’s throne and attends to the requests of local citizens. However, the Vandals are not yet defeated. Belisarius receives news that Zazo has quelled the Sardinian revolt and is returning with 5,000 men, reinforcing Gimer’s advance on Carthage.
Belisarius leads his army to face Gimer at Triamarum, where the Roman cavalry camps near a small brook. The Vandals catch them off guard while the Romans are still preparing for battle. However, Gimer fails to exploit this advantage and does nothing as the Romans deploy. When John of Armenia leads the Bukarians forward against the Vandal center, he is initially repulsed but succeeds on the third attempt, killing Zazo in the process.
Belisarius orders the rest of his army forward, and the Vandals flee, leaving behind 800 dead. The Romans have lost just 50 men. The Vandals take refuge in their camp, which contains all their baggage and families. When Belisarius brings up his infantry to begin the assault, Gimer flees. Panic soon engulfs the Vandal camp as everyone tries to escape. The Romans kill the men, enslave the women and children, and plunder all they can find. Belisarius cannot restore discipline until the morning.
Gimer flees towards the mountains, and Belisarius sends John in pursuit with 200 horsemen. However, five days later, John is accidentally killed by one of his own men. Belisarius grieves for his old comrade and sends Faris and his Heruli to continue the pursuit of Gimer. The Vandal King takes refuge with the Berber tribes. Three months later, hunger and the promise of comfort persuade him to surrender.
Meanwhile, Belisarius sends one of his officers to Sardinia with the head of Gimer’s brother, Zazo. The island quickly submits to Roman rule, as does Corsica. From Carthage, detachments and emissaries travel east and west as North Africa rejoins the Roman Empire. Although settlements and outposts still suffer Berber raids, Belisarius delegates this war to his able staff officer, Solomon. He sails for Constantinople with his prisoners and a vast quantity of loot.
Belisarius learns that a small group of officers, motivated by envy and ambition, have told the emperor that he plans to establish his own kingdom in North Africa. He soon persuades Justinian in person that these claims are lies and that his loyalty is absolute. The emperor rewards him with a Triumph, the victory parade that Romans had celebrated for their greatest conquests. It is the first Triumph awarded to anyone but an emperor in 500 years. He is also awarded the title of Consul, once the senior political office in the Roman Republic, now reduced to an honorary title.
Belisarius’s loot, including much of what the Vandals had plundered from Rome, is paraded in front of the citizens of Constantinople, along with his prisoners, including King Gimer himself, who is heard to mutter words from the Old Testament: “Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.”
The Vandal Kingdom, at the height of its wealth and military strength, was completely undone in such a short time by 5,000 men. Whether this happened by chance or valor, one would justly marvel at it. Known to history as the Vandalic War, Belisarius’s campaign has reclaimed one of the Roman Empire’s wealthiest provinces in just six months with minimal losses. The Battle of Dara had proven his skill as a tactical commander, and his victory comes through discipline, diplomacy, and a brilliantly successful hearts-and-minds campaign. However, it is already clear that there are those within the Empire who resent such success and seek his downfall. Belisarius will not have long to rest on his laurels, as a murder in far-off Tuscany is about to lead to his most formidable challenge yet.
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Big thanks to Legend Arian for providing our Total War: Attila gameplay footage. You can check out his documentary YouTube channel using the link in the video description. Thanks to the Vandalic War mod crew for their support, and thank you to Professor David Parnell of Indiana University Northwest, our series consultant. You can follow David on Twitter @byzantinprof or via the link in our video description. Thank you, of course, to all the Epic History TV Patreon supporters who make this channel possible.
Belisarius – A prominent general of the Byzantine Empire under Emperor Justinian I, known for his successful military campaigns in the Mediterranean region. – Belisarius played a crucial role in the reconquest of former Roman territories, including North Africa and Italy, during the reign of Justinian.
Vandals – A Germanic tribe that established a kingdom in North Africa and famously sacked Rome in 455 AD. – The Vandals’ control of the Mediterranean disrupted trade and communication between the Eastern and Western Roman Empires.
Justinian – Byzantine Emperor from 527 to 565 AD, known for his ambitious efforts to restore the Roman Empire’s former glory and his codification of Roman law. – Justinian’s legal reforms, known as the Corpus Juris Civilis, had a lasting impact on the development of legal systems in Europe.
Empire – A large political unit or state, usually under a single leader, that controls many peoples or territories. – The Byzantine Empire, with its capital at Constantinople, was a continuation of the Roman Empire in the East.
Africa – The second largest continent, which was home to several ancient civilizations and later became a focal point of European colonial interests. – The Roman Empire’s province of Africa was a vital source of grain and other resources for the city of Rome.
Carthage – An ancient city in North Africa that was a major power in the Mediterranean before its destruction by Rome in the Third Punic War. – The strategic location of Carthage made it a key target during the military campaigns of the Roman Republic.
Military – Relating to the armed forces or to soldiers, arms, or war. – The military strategies employed by the Roman legions were instrumental in expanding and maintaining the empire’s vast territories.
Campaign – A series of military operations intended to achieve a particular objective, confined to a particular area, or involving a specified type of fighting. – The campaign led by Belisarius in North Africa successfully reclaimed the region from the Vandals for the Byzantine Empire.
History – The study of past events, particularly in human affairs. – Understanding the history of the Byzantine Empire provides insights into the cultural and political developments of the medieval world.
Diplomacy – The art and practice of conducting negotiations between nations. – Byzantine diplomacy often involved complex alliances and treaties to maintain the empire’s influence and security.
