The New Student's Reference Work/Vandals

Vandals, a race of European barbarians who contributed very largely to the overthrow of the Roman empire. They made their first appearance as an historic people in the 26. century A. D., and in the first part of the 5th century, in company with the Suevi, Alani and other German tribes, invaded Gaul and ravaged and wasted it for three or more years. In 429 they crossed the Strait of Gibraltar, 50,000 to 80,000 strong under their leader Genseric, and carried devastation and ruin over northern Africa from the shores of the Atlantic to the frontiers of Cyrene. In 439 Genseric broke the peace which he had concluded with Valentinian III and conquered Carthage, when a new peace was concluded which recognized the authority of the Vandals over northern Africa and also over Sardinia, Corsica and part of Italy. In 455 the Vandals captured Rome and plundered it for several days. The manner in which they mutilated and destroyed the works of art collected in the city has caused the term vandalism to be applied to all similar acts of barbarity. After the death of Genseric his son, Hunneric, cruelly persecuted the orthodox Christians and kept the Mediterranean in almost constant alarm by his piracies. The Vandals continued to occupy northern Africa until 533, when the emperor, Justinian, sent an expedition against them under the great general, Belisarius, with the result that they were completely conquered, and their chieftain, Gelimer, was captured and carried to Constantinople in triumph. Most of the Vandals were then drafted into the Roman army and "used up" in the wars with Persia, the few who remained in Africa rapidly disappearing among the natives.