5 things you might not know about Geiseric

Geiseric (c. 389 – January 25, 477) was King of the Vandals, a Germanic tribe that rose from a small community to rulers of a major Mediterranean power and kingdom. He is believed to be the illegitimate son of King Godigisel but was raised as an equal and shortly after his father's death was elected king.

After numerous successful victories against the Romans, Geiseric and his Vandals arrived in Rome in 455 CE. Here they met with Pope Leo I and agreed that they would sack Rome in exchange for not damaging the city or its inhabitants. They kept their word, and left Rome with as much loot as their ships could carry.

The Romans were never able to defeat Geiseric. A brilliant thinker and military tactician, he played on the dwindling powers and wealth of the Roman Empire and found ways to attack them at their most weakest points. For instance, when he raided Rome it was when the city was experiencing near famine and bankruptcy.

Not only was Geiseric never defeated, he even took and conquered land from the Roman Empire. In 339 he was able to successfully seize Carthage from the Romans and all of its ships in its port. He went on to capture Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica and much of eastern North Africa.

Geiseric was the most successful leader of all the Vandals and one of the biggest threats to Ancient Rome in its history. He ruled for 50 years and died at the grand old age of 88 years old. His son, Huneric, unfortunately was not as strong a leader and the kingdom was conquered by Belisarius in 533-534.