in Spain, to share with him the sovereignty of the seven provinces (429). Bonifacius discovered the deception, but too late to retrieve his error; the barbarian monarch had made good his footing in the country, and the Roman general, having failed to arrest his progress in battle, was ultimately driven out of Africa.[1] During ten years Genseric worked his way to the east, gradually possessing himself of the provinces, and in 439 crowned the success of his adventure by the capture of Carthage.[2] A score of years later the Emperor Majorian fitted out an expedition for the expulsion of the Vandals; but the treason of his own officers brought about the destruction of his fleet in the bay of Carthagena, and the enterprise collapsed.[3] A decade elapsed and Genseric was again threatened by the eastern Emperor Leo, who massed together ships and troops at an immense expenditure for the reconquest of Africa. Owing to the incapacity or, perhaps, the perfidy of the commander, Basiliscus, the brother-in-law of the Emperor, this expedition also resulted in a disastrous failure.[4] During his long reign of nearly forty years Genseric was the terror of the Mediterranean, and in 455, incited by another unpatriotic invitation, invaded Italy and sacked Rome at the instance of the ex-Empress Eudoxia.[5]
- [Footnote: cf. Jordanes, De Reb. Get., 33. Boniface was a friend of Augustine,
who reproaches him for his conduct (Epist. 220). The name of the Vandal king is found variously as Genseric, Gizeric, and Gaiseric.]*
- ↑ The sequel to the story seems to be historical. After his return the Count of Africa met Aetius in battle, but, though victorious with his troops, received a mortal wound from his rival's lance.
- ↑ Procopius, loc. cit.; Marcellinus Com., Chron., an. 439, etc.
- ↑ Procopius, loc. cit., 7.
- ↑ Ibid., 6. He gives the cost of the expedition as 130,000 pounds of gold (£5,200,000).
- ↑ Ibid., 4, 5; cf. Jordanes, op. cit., 45. She was the daughter of Theodosius II and widow of Valentinian III, her cousin. She was
