jjares reviewed The Vandals: A Captivating Guide to the Barbarians That Conquered the Roman Empire During the Transitional Period from Late Antiquity to the Early Middle Ages on + 3264 more book reviews
Like the Celts, the Vandals did not leave a written history behind. Thus, they also suffer from the written records of their adversaries, who looked upon them unkindly. It seems the Vandals emerged from Sweden and migrated with the Goths (a Germanic tribe) to take up residence in Silesia, part of modern-day Poland.
They were farmers, who lived in small villages and were famous for their horsemanship skills and for their tooling of weapons. In the 4th century, they accepted Christianity. However, the Romans, who were Nicean Christians, thought the Aryan Christian-Vandals were heretics.
During the tumultuous 5th century, the Vandals moved to Gaul (present-day France), one of Rome's provinces. However, in 30 years, they migrated all the way to North Africa. During this time, the Roman empire was in disarray. The Vandals' crossing of the Mediterranean Sea is seen as a turning point in world history. The Vandals were the first barbarians to invade Roman provinces in Africa, and Rome never recovered from the loss. In 422, the Romans accepted the Vandals as a separate, independent empire who just happened to have taken over extensive lands in North Africa (including present-day Algeria, most of Tunisia, and some of Libya). The Vandals also took most of the Roman merchant fleet and shipyards. In 455, the Vandals turned their eyes toward Rome and sacked it without much trouble.
As is so often the case, the leader who brings about great victories often spawns lesser rulers. When Gaiseric died, lesser men replaced him and the kingdom decayed. In 534, the Vandal kingdom collapsed and North Africa rejoined the Roman Empire. This book makes an interesting statement to the effect that the Vandals were the most Romanized barbarians of them all.Â
They were farmers, who lived in small villages and were famous for their horsemanship skills and for their tooling of weapons. In the 4th century, they accepted Christianity. However, the Romans, who were Nicean Christians, thought the Aryan Christian-Vandals were heretics.
During the tumultuous 5th century, the Vandals moved to Gaul (present-day France), one of Rome's provinces. However, in 30 years, they migrated all the way to North Africa. During this time, the Roman empire was in disarray. The Vandals' crossing of the Mediterranean Sea is seen as a turning point in world history. The Vandals were the first barbarians to invade Roman provinces in Africa, and Rome never recovered from the loss. In 422, the Romans accepted the Vandals as a separate, independent empire who just happened to have taken over extensive lands in North Africa (including present-day Algeria, most of Tunisia, and some of Libya). The Vandals also took most of the Roman merchant fleet and shipyards. In 455, the Vandals turned their eyes toward Rome and sacked it without much trouble.
As is so often the case, the leader who brings about great victories often spawns lesser rulers. When Gaiseric died, lesser men replaced him and the kingdom decayed. In 534, the Vandal kingdom collapsed and North Africa rejoined the Roman Empire. This book makes an interesting statement to the effect that the Vandals were the most Romanized barbarians of them all.Â
