Vandal Kingdom: Map & History
The Vandal Kingdom or Kingdom of the Vandals and Alans was a confederation of Vandals and Alans, and a barbarian kingdom established under Gaiseric, a Vandalic warlord.
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The Vandal Kingdom or Kingdom of the Vandals and Alans was a confederation of Vandals and Alans, and a barbarian kingdom established under Gaiseric, a Vandalic warlord. It ruled parts of North Africa and the Mediterranean for 99 years from 435 to 534 AD.
Modern Countries Once Part of Vandal Kingdom
At its mapped extent, Vandal Kingdom covered territory in 9 present-day countries. The period shown is when the mapped borders include that country, and the note says how much of it.
- Malta441–442 CE · nearly all
- Vatican (Holy See)455–457 CE · nearly all
- Tunisia439–533 CE · most
- Morocco439–533 CE · a small part
- Algeria439–533 CE · a small part
- Italy441–533 CE · a small part
- Libya443–533 CE · a small part
- Spain439–533 CE · a small part
- France469–533 CE · a small part
States and Provinces
Largest Present-Day Cities in Its Territory
Each opens on the live map inside Vandal Kingdom's borders of that time.
Derived by testing mapped cities against this polity's dated territorial polygons, so the list is indicative and follows the borders in the source dataset.
Vandal Kingdom in Depth
History
The Vandals, under their new king Gaiseric (also known as Genseric or Geiseric), crossed to Africa in 429, beginning the Vandalic conquest of Roman Africa. Although their numbers are unknown and some historians debate the validity of estimates, based on Procopius's assertion that the Vandals and Alans numbered 80,000 when they moved to North Africa, Peter Heather estimates that they could have fielded an army of around 15,000–20,000. According to Procopius, the Vandals came to Africa at the request of Bonifacius, the military ruler of the region. However, it has been suggested that the Vandals migrated to Africa in search of safety; they had been attacked by a Roman army in 422 and had failed to seal a treaty with them.
Economy
The state of the economy overall is hard to assess. The Vandals did not create any gold coins, but taxes were increased to primarily pay for expanding the army. Trade did continue with pottery being exported but at lower levels. Whether grain shipments to Rome continued is unknown. In the 5th century, there was a decline in trade across the Mediterranean as well.
When arriving in Africa, the Vandals confiscated land held by senators and gave the land to themselves. Those who had their land confiscated ended up keeping their rights. Those who lived in the territory prior and were wealthy kept their wealth and power.
Sections adapted from Wikipedia: Vandal Kingdom (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Vandal Kingdom: Key Facts
| Capitals | Hippo Regius, Carthage |
|---|---|
| Form of government | Tanistry |
| Founded | 435 CE |
| Dissolved | 534 CE |
Preceded by
- Western Roman Empire
- Africa
Succeeded by
- praetorian prefecture of Africa
Facts from Wikidata Q10416611 (CC0).
Vandal Kingdom Map Over Time
Dated world maps on which Vandal Kingdom appears, with the other states of the time.
Vandal Kingdom Timeline
Key historical inflections from foundation to peak territorial expansion
Expansion to peak recorded area of 271,182 km² in 479 CE.
Vandal Kingdom: Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Vandal Kingdom exist?
The Vandal Kingdom is dated to 439 CE – 533 CE, in the Classical Antiquity era.
What was the capital of the Vandal Kingdom?
The capital of the Vandal Kingdom was Hippo Regius, (435–439), Carthage, (439–534).
How large was the Vandal Kingdom at its peak?
At its peak in 479 AD the Vandal Kingdom covered about 271,182 km².