Prologue: Restitutor Orbis II
The Western Roman Empire in 457 was in dire straits. Germanic tribes ran rampant all over the empire, carving out their own de facto independent kingdoms from Western Roman territory, reducing the available manpower and tax revenue for the empire. North Africa had been conquered by the Vandals, which essentially ruined the Western Roman economy. Constant civil wars, usurpations, rebellions, and wars with the barbarians had weakened Rome. Not since the dark days of the mid third century had things been this bad. A series of ineffective leaders had not helped, and the Roman people themselves were demoralized. People were not as motivated to join the army anymore, leading to the Romans relying on Germanic peoples. Contrary to popular belief, these troops were not actually ineffective or disloyal per se. In fact, some of the greatest Western Roman victories would be won with these foederati, as we will soon see. The Western Roman army could still kick some serious ass. However, the lack of native Romans in the army was a serious problem. All in all, it didn’t look like the Western Roman Empire as a political entity would survive much longer. All of that changed in 457.
Okay, not all of it changed. In fact the only thing that really did change was the ineffective leadership. In 457, after a series of military successes, the general Majorian was proclaimed emperor by his troops after Valentinian III died. The barbarian Magister Militum Ricimer supported this; Ricimer thought that Majorian could be made a puppet emperor, which many emperors at this time had been.
Upon taking charge, Majorian set about getting things together. He launched a series of spectacular military campaigns to reconquer lost territory from the Germanic tribes. He defeated a Vandal attack on Italy in 457, and then defeated the Visigoths at the Battle of Arelate, and then secured Septimania and reduced the goths to foederati status once more, bringing Hispania back into the empire. He then attacked the Burgundians, moving his army across the Alps. He expelled them from the Rhone valley and reintegrated Gaul into the empire as well. At the same time, Nepotianus attacked the Suebi, reducing them as well.
These reconquests were spectacular, but the real prize lay ahead: Africa. In the third century, North Africa underwent a massive economic expansion, which only continued during the late antique period. Securing it would be vital, as it provided the city of Rome with grain imports, provided tax revenue, was a key trade hub in the Mediterranean, and was the largest producer of pottery in the Western Empire at the time. Securing it would be vital for the economy and survival of the state. Accordingly, Majorian prepared a fleet of 300 ships, docked on the Spanish coast.
The exact details of that night in 461 AD are a mystery. We do not know exactly what happened. Historians are only able to reliably put together a general picture of the events surrounding Majorian’s fleet. This may surprise modern readers, given the abundance of accounts in the past, but recent scholarship has revealed that these are mostly embellishments not based on any hard evidence. What scholars do generally agree on is that in 460 or 461, the Vandal king Geiseric attempted to sneak-attack Majorian’s fleet on the Spanish coast before Majorian became unbeatable. To this end, he attempted to bribe several of Majorian’s captains to switch sides. This attempt failed; Historians agree that Majorian’s soldiers must’ve caught Geiseric’s agents in the act. The corrupt captains and Vandal agents were arrested and executed for treason. Majorian’s fleet defeated Geiseric’s, and the invasion proceeded.
In late September 461, Majorian launched his attack on the Vandal kingdom. His fleet did battle with a Vandal armada at Cape Bon, where the Vandals were decisively crushed. His troops landed and he marched on Carthage. Meanwhile, Marcellinus, a Roman general who ruled in Illyricum, sailed and attacked Sardinia, conquering it from the Vandals by October 461.
Geiseric knew Majorian’s forces were stronger than his own, and further knew that the general population would support Majorian over him. Therefore, he elected to avoid directly engaging with Majorian. However, his situation was dire. If he stayed in Carthage, Majorian would siege him, and it was likely that the populace of the city would turn on him. However, he didn’t really have anywhere else to go, and so reluctantly elected to remain in Carthage, hoping to wear Majorian down.
Sure enough, in late October 461 Majorian’s force arrived outside of Carthage and began preparations for a siege. Majorian had taken great care to treat the Roman populace well, seeming like a liberator rather than a conqueror. He was cheered as a hero as he walked through recently liberated towns, most of which gave up without a fight. His forces fought a few skirmishes with the Vandals, which the Romans won.
As Majorian began to siege down Carthage, he was extra on-guard for potential subterfuge from Geiseric. Sure enough, he attempted to bribe several of Majorian’s foederati to desert him, but seeing what had happened to those who took bribes and not wanting to risk their pay and potential loot, they instead reported this to Majorian, who rewarded their loyalty. After two weeks of siege, the Romans in Carthage tried to open the gates to Majorian, but Geiseric’s guards stopped them. Majorian then sent spies to spread discontent among the populace of the city, and Geiseric was forced to spread his troops thinner and thinner to restore order. Finally, after another week of siege, the Romans rose up at night to open the gates. This time, they overwhelmed the guards, who were stretched too thinly.
Majorian’s spies had alerted him to this plan, and his troops were ready. They stormed the city, killing and capturing the Vandal garrison. Geiseric managed to flee, along with many other Vandal leaders, but on November 21st, 461, Carthage was liberated. The next day Majorian paraded his troops down the streets of the city, surrounded by throngs of cheering people. The Vandal leaders who were captured were executed. Majorian took a few weeks to consolidate his position and reintegrate Africa into the empire. Grain shipments to Rome resumed, as did tax payments, although missed taxes from the time under Vandal rule would not have to be made up. New Roman administrators were brought in or promoted, and new garrisons installed.
However, Geiseric was still out there with a force of Vandals a few thousand strong. Majorian gathered his troops to confront Geiseric, who saw the writing on the wall and surrendered. Majorian sentenced him to house arrest in an estate.
Majorian had just won a major victory, and the future of the Western Roman Empire looked bright for the first time in decades. However, they were not out of the woods yet; The survival of the empire would be a hard fought battle. The persistence of the Roman state was never guaranteed. They had to work for it, fight for it, and die for it. It was hard earned. However, Majorian’s victory reinvigorated the Roman state, and without him, it’s likely the western half of the empire would have fallen in the fifth century, leaving the fate of the east unknown.
NOTE: Anything here is subject to future retcons pending viewer comments and corrections, as well as any of my own thoughts. Also, this is my first ever timeline entry. Any constructive criticism is welcome. It will be a while before I hit my stride. I hope to go much more into depth in the future and flesh out the scenario and the world I plan to build. Any comments on formatting and style would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
