HKB
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Often appears with: treaties, truces, and peacemaking · naval warfare and sea power · empire and the rule of provinces · visigoths · supply, logistics, and encampment · siege and fortification · roman response to the vandal threat · ostrogoths · genseric’s naval power · genseric · franks · conversion and faith
Usually: argument (2) · narrative (1) · sudden reversal of fortune (1) · censure (1) · detachment (1)
“Experience has shown, that the success of an invader most commonly depends on the vigor and celerity of his operations.” Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · insight
“This salutary revolution 126 was hastened by the example of a royal martyr, whom our calmer reason may style an ungrateful rebel.” Edward Gibbon, History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire · insight
Gibbon explains how the separation of Africa weakened Rome and how Genseric’s Vandals, after building a navy using Mount Atlas timber, resumed Mediterranean raids and provoked Roman defenses.
Sack Of Rome By Genseric, King Of The Vandals.—His Naval Depredations.—Succession Of The Last Emperors Of The West, Maximus, Avitus, Majorian, Severus, Anthemius, Olybrius, Glycerius, Nepos, Augustulus.—Total Extinction Of The Western Empire.—Reign Of Odoacer, The First Barbarian King Of Italy. The loss or desolation of the provinces, from the Ocean to the Alps, impaired the glory and great…
Gibbon explains how Basiliscus’s slow delay and negotiated truce let Genseric of the Vandals burn Roman ships off Africa, leading Basiliscus’s flight to Constantinople and the failure of the campaign.
he charges the blame on Basiliscus, as the shipwreck of the state. From that time all the revenues of the empire were anticipated; and the finances fell into inextricable confusion.—M.] Experience has shown, that the success of an invader most commonly depends on the vigor and celerity of his operations. The strength and sharpness of the first impression are blunted by delay; the health and spirit …
Gibbon claims that Arianism persisted among the Vandals and Ostrogoths until their kingdoms’ collapse, while Gaul submitted to Frankish rule and Spain returned to Catholicism through the Visigoths’ voluntary conversion.
Africa and Italy. The Barbarians of Gaul submitted to the orthodox dominion of the Franks; and Spain was restored to the Catholic church by the voluntary conversion of the Visigoths. This salutary revolution 126 was hastened by the example of a royal martyr, whom our calmer reason may style an ungrateful rebel. Leovigild, the Gothic monarch of Spain, deserved the respect of his enemies, and the lov…