September 13 - Ad Decimum

Komnenos has decided to take a break from AE so I will stand in for him for the time that he's away. Since I'll be very busy with college, I can't really say that each one of my snippets will be as thorough as his...

September 13, 553 - Romans defeat Vandals at Ad Decimum

1500 years ago on this day, the Romans under the command of Belisarius defeated the Vandals led by King Gelimer. The battle, near Carthage, marked the beginning of Roman reconquest under Justinianus and the fall of the Vandal Kingdom.

When the Western Roman fell, western Europe and Mediterranean was ruled by various barbarian kingdoms. Legendary was the Vandals, who went into Gaul, through Spain, across to modern-day Morocco, and finally settling in Carthage, from where they launched multiple attacks, one entering Rome in 455. A century later, after the Fall of the west, the Eastern Emperor Justinian had an eye on reconquering the fallen west. Led by the famed Belisarius, the Romans landed in North africa in 553. Belisarius was met by king Gelimer of the Vandals at Ad Decimum ("Ten Mile Post").

The King of the Vandals sent his brother to flank the Romans, while he led the main attack. The two battlelines closed in and fierce fighting ensued. However, the Romans were proving to be no match for Vandal courage. The course of history hinged at this moment, and the Vandals had a chance to crush Belisarius and deny the entire Byzantine reconquest. (and make it so that there would be no forumer in AE named in honor of the Roman. LOL) However, the Vandal King soon learned that his brother had been killed. Losing heart, he stopped to lament and bury his brother. Taking advantage of this turn of events. the Romans regrouped and won the battle from a close defeat.

After this battle, the Vandal Kingdom collapsed rapidly. It marked the beginning of Byzantium reconquest. Two years later, Belisarius turned to Italy. Meanwhile, Gelimer had already surrendered and was taken to Constantinople, where he lived a reasonable life.

"And when Gelimer reached the hippodrome and saw the emperor sitting upon a lofty seat and the people standing on either side and realized as he looked about in what an evil plight he was, he neither wept nor cried out, but ceased not saying over in the words of the Hebrew scripture: "Vanity of vanities, all is vanity.""

Other events:

1087 - Birth of Komnenos
1759 - Battle of the Plains of Abraham, decisive British victory of the French and Indian War.





Edited by Imperator Invictus

1931 The criminal attempt of Biatorb�gy in Hungary. More than twenty people died when a train was detonated. The Cabinet had an occasion to got even with the Communist Party. Two communist leaders were sentenced to death.