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The Vandals were a bloodthirsty Eastern European tribe who left a trail of destruction across Europe and Africa. Their origins are obscure, but they had a mixed racial background. They converted to Arianism and began a mass exodus westward in the early 5th century, leaving a path of destruction. They established their own kingdom in North Africa with Carthage as its capital and carried out the infamous sack of Rome in AD 455. They were captured by Rome in AD 533, ending their reign permanently. Their lack of artifacts and culture has left a gap in historical understanding, but they are remembered for their destructive tactics, which led to the term “vandalism”.
The Vandals were an Eastern European tribe with a very bloodthirsty reputation. As they swept across Europe and Africa in the early centuries AD, they left a trail of pillaged cities and huge numbers of casualties. Historically insignificant after their defeat by Roman forces in AD 534, the Vandals left behind little in the way of artifacts or culture, but their behavior echoes throughout history with resounding ferocity.
The tribe consisted of two main clans, the Asding or Hasdingii and the Siling or Silingii. By about 120 BC, a major section of the Vandals had settled in what is now Poland, but prior to this their origins are obscure. Scholars believe they had a mixed racial background consisting of some Celtic and Baltic and Germanic ancestry.
For several centuries, the tribe lived in relative obscurity, despite some skirmishes with neighboring tribes and the mighty Roman Empire. By the 4th century, most of the tribe’s members had converted to a form of Christianity called Arianism. This belief system was dangerously at odds with more orthodox forms of Christianity, suggesting that Jesus was not God, but was created by God to help mankind.
Though likely due to increasing attacks from another tribe, it’s not really known why the Vandals began a mass exodus westward in the early 5th century, but it’s this journey that created their notoriety. While migrating to the Rhine River, they encountered and defeated the Franks, despite having lost 5 soldiers and their king. They overran Gaul and left the area in total ruin, looting and burning as they went.
Despite their difficult and sometimes bloody relationship with the Roman Empire, the tribe was granted land in exchange for an alliance in AD 409. They occupied Andalusia and Galicia for several years, continuing to fight with neighboring tribes. After the mighty Visigoths nearly destroyed the Alani tribe in 426, the remnants of the Alans merged with the Vandals, giving them greater power. During this time, the tribe built a huge fleet of ships to use in plunder and in 429 AD, the entire tribe, believed to have numbered more than 80,000 people, crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and invaded North Africa.
The tribe besieged cities in North Africa for several years under the command of King Geiseric, eventually establishing their own kingdom with Carthage as its capital. In AD 455, they carried out their most infamous feat of violence: the sack of Rome. After this incredible raid, the Vandals consolidated their wealth and remained supremely powerful for several decades. In 533, however, after years of persistent Roman attacks, the major Vandal cities were captured by Rome and the Vandal king Gelimer surrendered, ending their reign permanently.
For a tribe that wielded considerable power during their era, the Vandals are often forgotten in the history books. Their lack of artistic culture and artifacts has left a huge gap in the historical understanding of the people and their lives. They are mostly remembered for their destructive tactics, which led to the modern term for property damage, “vandalism”.
