VandalPBM Writeup

[Zimfan]

A brief intro to the Vandal family:
Visimar, Faction Leader

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/6fb6164056.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)
Gondegusulus, Faction Heir, who I’m guessing honed his fighting skills on the playground beating up anyone who made fun of his name. Or maybe that was his father’s torturer’s job.
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/cced6b415b.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)
And now the story:
Cursed Huns! King Visimar muttered to himself as he marched his horse away from Vicus Vandali, leading a giant host of his people. He harbored no illusions about the Huns’ offers of friendship and alliance. If he and his people had stayed in their homes in Vicus Vandali and the smaller towns around it, they would have swept through them, destroying his forces piecemeal and sacking his people’s settlements.

Rather than allow this to happen, Visimar had all able bodied men take up arms and the rest pack up their possessions for a great migration. It had taken many long nights arguing with the nobles of the Vandal tribes to convince them, but finally the impending Hunnic threat and Visimar’s tales of Roman armies spread too thin and rich Roman cities defended by plump townspeople that know not the ways of war. Of course, have the recalcitrant nobles’ heads stuck on pikes may have had something to do with it… All those remaining unable or unwilling to join the migration were left behind with their possessions as a gift offering to the Huns.

And so the Vandal people packed off to head west. But first provisions had to be obtained. The Sarmatians to the south had settled long and grown soft. They had also obtained much wealth from trade with the Eastern Roman Empire and Sassanid Empire. Their settlements would be a perfect target to gain the provisions needed to make the great trek to the Western Roman provinces.

First the Sarmatian army wandering the countryside outside their capital had to be taken care of, lest they reinforce the city. Vismar himself led his army against the Sarmatian general Rumo.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/5683334580.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

After some initial skirmishing sent the Sarmatian herdsmen running Visimar himself rode out with his bodyguard to battle the enemy general.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/4c6e943cc8.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Not being one to fight fair when other options present themselves, Visimar had his horse achers charge Rumo from behind.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/07afc4e738.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Rumo’s army was destroyed but the cowardly dog escaped to hide in Campus Sarmatae.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/83bbc58283.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

With Sarmatia’s field army wiped out, Visimar was ready to besiege Campus Sarmatae, which was conveniently unwalled, allowing an immediate assault. The town was defended by the Sarmatian King Boz, along with a decent garrison and his cowardly son Rumo.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/660bec44d9.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

The fire arrows of the Vandal horde’s foot archers ensure that the tribe will be eating a delicious feast of well done horse burgers this night.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/30472f6c76.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Having won the skirmishing stage of the battle, Visimar sent his foot troops ahead towards the center of town while he and the horse archers circled around back. However, he underestimated the melee ability of Boz’s remaining unit of armoured horse archers, which charged his foot troops, slaughtering many of Visimar’s runaway slave spearmen. He charged their rear with his own personal bodyguard, taken them out, and went around to the back of the town center. Then, throwing caution to the wind, Boz and his son charged their bodyguards at his infantry, slaughtering yet more of them. Visimar and his men returned to the rescue, charging back into the fray.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/064351f086.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Boz and his son were quickly cut down, and the rest of the town’s defenders taken out. The battle had taken a heavy toll on Visimar’s men, but Campus Sarmatae was sacked and he had the weapons, food, and other provisions he needed for his people’s migration. The Sarmatian people were scattered to the four winds.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/c49cdc4284.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

News was brought from Visimar's spies in the west of a rebellion among the Romans, making the Vandal horde even more eager to sack the weakly defended cities of the now divided faction.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/2463d0bd1b.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

The long journey had many in the horde wondering if it will ever end.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/d4a5e30e2e.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Visimar had planned on bypassing the poor barbarian towns on his way west but arrogant threats from the local tribes enraged him and he decided to wipe them out..

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/dfd2221400.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

The Lombad towns went down without a fight, their cowardly garrisons huddling in their besieged towns until they starved or died of disease. Both settlements were sacked and their people's meager possessions taken.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/91169ac5f9.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/2a9f71f104.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

A couple year detour wandering lost around the forest of Germany started to wear thin the patience of the steppe people.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/abd6b4f904.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

In campus Burgundii the nomad hating king Odovacar led his garrison out against the superior forces led by captain Boiocalus, personally charging against Boiocalus’ infantry with his own royal guard while elsewhere the captain slaughtered his war hounds.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/6851ab572f.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)
http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/33685e42e3.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

Brave though he was, Odovacar’s charge was foolish and captain Odovocar’s superior numbers won through in the end.

http://www.uploadfile.info/uploads/26921a105a.jpg (http://www.uploadfile.info)

As of 371 Vismar’s forces had both Vicus Franki and Campus Chatii besieged and about to fall. The rich Roman cities were close enough to see, beckoning to Vismimar, without a legion in sight. In the same year, Vismar received conflicting reports from spies in the east. One said the Gothic faction had been destroyed, one that they had packed up for a migration of their own.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Outside of Vicus Franki, 373 AD

The old woman made her way through the endless camp, marveling at the change that had taken place. Just a year ago the fields outside Vicus Franki had been peaceful, with farmers lovingly tending to it, and the various animals grazing on the infinite green grass. Now, however, that had all changed.

This horde of Vandals had come, driving away the farmers, and besieging her people’s capital. In some ways these people were similar to the Franks, but their style of war was so different. They had brought thousands of horses with them, and apparently fired arrows on horseback! Radically different from heavy infantry. Plus, these horses were now rapidly proving that the “infinite green grass” was not so infinite after all. Such was the way of war.

However, it was not her place to complain about the army’s treatment of the field. She had come to see Visimar, king of the Vandals, and tell him what she saw. She made her way to the biggest tent there. Who else’s could it be? Not to mention the fact that four extremely nasty-looking guards were blocking the entrance.

“I must speak with the King,” she told them.

“The King does not have time to palaver with every Frankish crone that comes this way. Please leave before you are killed.”

“It is regarding the coming years that he and his people will face. I have received a message from the gods and they have decreed that I take it to King Visimar.” The guards looked extremely skeptical at this.

“Look, I have come a long way to speak to your King. What are you afraid of? I am an old crone, as you state. Do you really think I could overpower him?” The guards looked at each other, unsure. Finally, a voice came from the tent. “Let her in.”

The old woman stepped in. Facing her was Visimar, King of the Vandals. A mountain of a man. Even though he was 47 and had been through ten long, hard years on the march, he still looked ready to pulverize any enemy soldier that was unlucky enough to face him in battle.

“You have a message from the gods concerning me?” His voice was full of command and influence.

“Uh… yes. It is now the summer of 373 AD, as the Romans mark it. You and your people have been on the march for ten long years. There is danger everywhere.”

The king laughed. “Everywhere except in front of me. Once I get past Vicus Franki the fat Roman cities lie ahead with pathetic garrisons. They will fall easily. I am afraid the gods have given me a mistaken message.”
The old crone was serious. “They did not.” A cold wind suddenly spread through the camp. “The Western Roman armies still have some power left, enough to cripple your force. Also ahead lie the entire Lombardi, whom you have so kindly made abandon your homes.

“Directly in your path are now the Franks and Burgundii. Neither will fall easily, and if they do fall someone will rise up as king and take the entire people on the march, much like you or the Huns or Lombardi. Surely either of those hordes could give a death blow to your people.

“Your future lies in continued marching, so you would be wise to conserve your forces. Yes, the garrisons are pathetic. It’s not a question of whether you take the cities or not, but how many men you lose taking those cities. For when you reach your final destination, if there are no men to live there, then you will be doomed.”

Visimar was no longer skeptical. “What is my final destination?”

The old woman laughed. “Ah, Visimar, you have marched for so long and still have a ways to go. You must recombine your forces –no sending sons to take secondary cities- and move through Gaul. When you finally reach the Pyrenees, take the eastern pass. For you are to march through the hills of Iberia until you finally come to the Roman city of Corduba.”

“Is Corduba my final destination?”

She laughed again. It was not a pleasant sound. “No. Your destination lies across the sea. Corduba happens to be where the sea is thinnest. You are to take your men across the strait and march east until you come to the ancient city that thrice defied Rome, until it was burned down and the earth around it was salted. This place will be your new capital.”

“Wait! I can’t just walk my men across the sea!”

“Then I suggest you stay a while to build some ships, Visimar.” She laughed again, walked out of the tent, and disappeared.

Conserve your forces. He would have to remember that.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Marcus “The Gambler” Flavius stared at the latest map detailing the movements of enemy forces. It was not good.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_016.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_002.JPG

These “Vandals” had come out of the East, sacking everything in their path. Due to it, the Lombardi had invaded Gaul and, if things were going especially badly, the Burgundii and possibly even the Franks would pack up and move into Roman lands. Not to mention where the Vandals themselves would go. Why had God made things so damned hard? Surely Caesar and Augustus never had to go through this, especially with the financial and military shape the Western Empire was in.

At least the Huns and Sarmatians were threatening the Eastern half of the formerly unified empire. Stupid Greeks. Maybe one day his grandson would re-unify the two, and take lots of eagles doing so…

But that would be years from now. In the present, there was a major storm coming: Very soon, thousands of smelly barbarians and nomads would be making their way into the Western Empire. He was blessed with the largest Roman army, and by God, he would use it to fend them off.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Campus Chatti, 373 AD

Gondegusulus, heir to the Vandal throne, had just received Visimar’s message: Conserve. He wondered what had made his king cautious all of a sudden. No matter. The city had not waited to starve. They sallied out in a last-ditch attempt to save their city, as any real army should do.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_003.JPG

He organized his army so his famous horse archers would be in a crescent, enfilading the enemy coming out of the gates. Scores of men would die even before they reached the horses, who would be safely out of the way by the time the enemy finally arrived.

The Burgundii general, Inguiomenus, along with the king and heir, had decided to send their elite infantry first, the Lombardi beserkers. Unluckily for them, as the elite infantry died quickly under the spray of arrows that met them.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_004.JPG

The light cavalry was next to enter the Horse Archer Crescent of Death.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_005.JPG

Finally, all three generals with their heavy cavalry made their way to the flank, ravaging the Chosen Swordsmen placed there. For a moment it looked as if they would then ram into the spearmen from the overturned flank.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_006.JPG

But Gondegusulus arrived and fought off the Burgundii heavies, along with the help of the spearmen. Eventually all three generals died and the Vandal force made their way into the city, although they were pestered by the Sarmatian horse archers.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_007.JPG

I wonder if that’s exactly what Visimar didn’t want me to do? Gondegusulus wondered. The losses were heavy, but could have been worse if not for the horse archers. The lack of Chosen Swordsmen would definitely hurt. But nevertheless, the deed was done, the settlement was sacked, and the Burgundii were looking for a new home.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_008.JPG

That winter he spent moving his forces to join up with Visimar’s, as per the King’s orders. Just what was up with him, anyway? Why hadn’t he attacked Vicus Franki yet?

…

Six generals.

Six units of heavy cavalry, including the Frankish King and his heir. That old crone must have really hated him. That was why he didn’t attack. That cavalry would be deadly. So Visimar decided to starve the city out, bringing about half of the horde’s forces with him, in case they decided to sally.

They did.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_009.JPG

No matter how hard the horses fought, three large armies was simply too much. Vicus Franki was sacked, but at a terrible cost. Visimar’s son Maroboduus, who was the primary target of the Frankish assault, had died in the fighting.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_010.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_011.JPG

~~~~~~~

Marcus Flavius again studied a new map. It was now the summer of 374, in the year of our Lord. Europe was a mess.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_012.JPG

Those cursed Vandals had succeeded in hording both the Franks and Burgundii. Luckily the Burgundii seemed to move East, but the Franks and Lombardi were heading straight for Italy! It looked like he would be seeing battle with the Lombardi soon, he was just waiting for the Emperor’s orders.

The only good thing about this was it slowed the Vandals’ progress, making them unsure of where to go next. Excellent. He was a good fighter, but was not sure if he could take on three hordes at once.

Winter, 374

Still no orders from the Emperor. What on Earth was that man waiting for? The Vandals were still unsure of where to go. Apparently Visimar had gone senile early. Marcus chuckled. God had an odd sense of humor, that was for certain.

Then he received a chilling piece of news: The Berbers had taken Carthage. Their hold on Africa was gone.

Summer, 375

Marcus was easily enraged these days. It seemed like his army was trapped North of the Alps, because the Emperor had still not given the order to attack the Lombardi. What was he waiting for, them to threaten Rome itself? If he wasn’t loyal to the Empire, he might have taken his huge army and gone rogue.

Summer, 376

He feared for his brother’s life. Nero Flavius, Hero of the Empire, was trapped with a pathetic garrison in Colonia Agrippina, with a large army outside the city. The Vandals had began their march through Gaul. Nero was great, but could he survive this? Marcus prayed a lot those months.

Winter, 376

He just got word. Nero had fallen.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_013.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_014.JPG

Colonia Agrippina was gone.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_015.JPG

Summer, 377

Was there no end to this? The Vandals had moved on to Samarobriva. If that fell, Britannia would be cut off. The Lombardi had threatened Augusta Vindelicorum, and still the Emperor ordered nothing. Marcus couldn’t bear it all. The world he knew was collapsing.

~~~~~~~

Winter, 377

Conservation.

Gondegusulus had done well taking Colonia Agrippina. That fool Nero Flavius fell easily, and only 28 of his own men had died. Visimar hoped that Gildo would be as prudent when taking Samarobriva.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_017.JPG

Roman power. He laughed. The walls had fallen without a fight, Gildo reported. The “mighty” Roman infantry had been camped in the town square, where they had been slaughtered.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_018.JPG

Gildo had performed admirably, only losing a handful of men.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_019.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_020.JPG

During the looting, some of his generals came up to him.

“Visimar, don’t you think it’s time we settled? The Huns are still east, at war with the Sarmatians. The other people we displaced are all moving to Roman territory.”

“Have patience. There are still places to raid for treasure and women. Avaricum, the jewel of Gaul lies ahead. How can we let a fat target like that, a huge city, not fall victim to us?”

Its walls, for one thing.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_021.JPG

[GeneralHankerchief]

Winter, 378

Marcus “The Gambler” Flavius read the report and sighed. After a moment, he crumpled it up and threw it into the fire.

Curse it all, why were his people damned to have a senile Emperor who wouldn’t do a thing about the fact that his empire was quickly collapsing? With a little taxation plus an aggressive recruiting service, this situation could have been averted. But no. And now it seemed like every single trouser-wearing, mustachioed barbarian, horse or not, was making his way into their territory. Gaul was quickly falling. The Alps were being threatened. And here he was, with an army large enough to make a difference, and the bloody Emperor told him to stay put!

So all that was left to defend against the barbarian invasion were the pathetic garrisons of each city. They were decent enough against bandit raids, but the hordes that were facing Gaul right now were more than mere bandits. Visimar, King of those ever-cursed Vandals, had personally led an army against the great city of Avaricum. This was rare, since Visimar had gained a reputation the past few years as being overly cautious. But here he was, in front of the Jewel of Gaul. He had even brought along another family member, Brinno, for an extra punch on horses.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_022.JPG

Everyone knew that the city’s only hope was to put up a fierce stand on the epic stone walls. But Visimar attacked at night, catching the garrison off-guard and leaving the walls undefended. The King brought up his siege towers with little trouble.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_023.JPG

Bravely, the peasants rushed up to the gate to try to defend it from the soldiers coming down. But having to fight against the elite Chosen Swordsmen, as well as having their own towers fire on them was too much. The peasants broke and fled.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_024.JPG

The soldiers marched down the undefended streets of the huge city. For the people of the poor city, they must have looked like death itself. In the shadow of the Imperial Palace, Visimar and Brinno charged against the last line of defense, a cohort of Comitatenses. They fought well enough, but it was no use.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_025.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_026.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_027.JPG

Marcus groaned when he read about the sack. So many buildings had been ripped down, so many lives had been lost, but what hurt most was that 26,663 denarii had been taken. Maybe that will finally wake up that bureaucratic idiot we call Augustus, Marcus thought. Before he had time to chuckle, though, somebody came in his tent, holding another report. A small force had been ambushed east of Burdigala – by Vandals.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_028.JPG

The enemy had surrounded the column on both sides and peppered them with arrows. They tried to flee but were cut down easily.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_029.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_030.JPG

Later, when he made sure nobody would see him, Marcus the Gambler cried. Cried for his beloved Rome. Surely it wouldn’t end this way. Couldn't end this way.

~~~~~~~

At the same time, but east of Burdigala, Visimar was displaying a far different emotion to a far different audience. He was chewing out Vangio, commander of the army that had laid the ambush and destroyed the Roman column.

“68 deaths? Sixty-eight deaths?!” The man was nearly purple in the face, gray hair flowing wildly. “You have some explaining to do, Vangio!!”

Vangio, who was expecting to be congratulated, looked in shock. “Well, my lord- ah, as soon as our arrows started flying, they, uh, broke and ran for it.”

The king was silent for about thirty seconds while Vangio waited for him to say something.

“Well, GO ON! They fled! THEN, what did you do?!”

“Then, we chased them, my lord! My cavalry and the sp-spearmen slammed into both sides.”

“So you should have killed them easily, right?”

“Yes, my lo- no, my- wait, yes! But then they turned and fought to the death! Somehow a horse archer unit even get into the melee and it wound up routing.”

The king looked ready to explode for a second. Then he calmed down, and spoke with icy coldness. “You should have set up a net. Horse archers on three sides of the enemy instead of two. What did you think they’d do, stay put?

“Apparently, you don’t seem to realize, Vangio, that we are on an extremely long march here. I have people asking me every settlement we take ‘can we settle here? This looks nice’ but I know that it’s not the right place. We still have a ways to go, and need every man we can get for the coming fights. Once we finally do settle, we won’t be much of a civilization if there’s nobody to populate it.

“I was expecting your losses to number in the single digits, if any. Since you can’t even protect your men in a simple ambush I have no confidence in you for a full-field battle, or even a siege assault. You are relieved from command henceforth.”

Vangio turned and left the tent, head down in shame.

Burdigala, 379

Word of Visimar’s turn towards cautiousness reached the garrision of Burdigala, which consisted of Cnaeus Flavius and his escort. Visimar’s army was not far behind. Knowing he was a doomed man, Cnaeus spent his time under siege spreading nasty rumors that the mighty King of the Vandals was frightened of fighting.

“Visimar has a large army and rams built but is too scared to come in and fight.”

“Visimar only targets the cities with smaller garrisons because he faints at the sight of blood.”

“Visimar doesn’t want to be King anymore because as long as he is, he has to lead armies and be a man.”

Eventually, the rumors worked, especially with the King holding off on attacking until Winter. Morale in the city was high and extremely low in the army. The men began to start doubting their King’s prowess as a commander, and especially as an attacker.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_041.JPG

Finally, Visimar attacked on a cold, winter night. Cnaeus’s plan was simple – stay in the square, and heroically charge at the first unit that came in sight. Hopefully they would cause a chain rout.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_031.JPG

But Visimar had something different in mind. He wanted to fight his tormentor man-to-man.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_032.JPG

During the assault, he only ordered one ram to start battering, as well as held the entire army back. The men groaned. Looks like the Romans were right. But then his bodyguard moved forward. They were going into the city… alone.

As his escort’s horses were clopping through the streets, the people of Burdigala saw what was going on. They jeering and hissing and throwing things at the invading force. It was a slow, long, lonely march for Visimar’s men to get to the center of town.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_033.JPG

Finally, he halted, with the town square in view. He called out to the night.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_034.JPG

“Cnaeus Flavius! You have repeatedly questioned my abilities over the past six months! Thanks to your poison my commanding prowess, my regard, and my honor have been thrown into doubt! I congratulate you on your strategy to lower my army’s morale!

“But if you look, you will find no army! It’s just my escort and yours! A fair fight, no? I plan to get my honor back tonight. We will see who is the better fighter! We will see who faints at the sight of blood! Make no mistake about it, the stakes are high! For if you kill me, my guard is left captainless; my army leaderless; my people kingless! Let it never be said that Visimar is not a gambler!”

At that moment Cnaeus gulped. His strategy had been rendered useless by Visimar. All that remained was for his Germans to fight these nomad people who had been born to fight on horses. The next thing he knew he was doing just that.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_035.JPG

Visimar looked around gleefully. He wished there were more Roman soldiers around to see how he was hacking at the enemy. To see how his guard was winning. To see their general fall after putting a miserable fight.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_036.JPG

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_037.JPG

After he counted the dead, he ordered the rest of the army in to take what they wanted.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_038.JPG

In his eyes, he redeemed himself. But he would always be cautious. That Frankish witch said he needed to. And she was right. However, the rest of the world didn’t know this, and still the rumors persisted.

~~~~~~~

Visimar’s reputation was the least of Marcus Flavius’ worries. He had just read the latest diplomatic report. Rarely could he think of a time when there was so much danger to Rome. Perhaps in 280 BC when Pyrrhus was in Southern Italy or 216 when Hannibal had slaughtered so many Romans at Cannae, but at least then the Republic had money and men to fight back. Here, he wasn’t so sure.

The scroll had started by giving some good news. How nice of it. The Burgundii, in looking for a home, had wiped out the Alemanii.
http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_042.JPG

He had heard the last battle was bloody on both sides and the Burgundii were moving east. He was fine with that.

After that, however, the news was worse and worse. On the eastern front, the Huns had the Sarmatians on the move again after Campus Iazyges fell. This would put even more pressure on the Eastern part of the Western Empire.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_039.JPG

Next on the scroll was something he already knew and chilled his bone to the core: The Lombardi, who had moved through the mountain pass that his army was only FIFTY MILES FROM, had assaulted Mediolanium and settled there!

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_043.JPG

He couldn’t believe it. Aemilia, named after the great Aemilii family of the Republic whose names (Lucius, Servius, and the greatest of all, Marcellus the Elder) still rang in the heart of every Roman, was in the hands of stinking barbarians! He wondered what Augustus Verginius, famous for his hatred of barbarians, would have done.

Finally, the Vandals, with nothing left to sack in Gaul, were moving through the Pyrenees to Iberia. No part of Rome was safe now.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_040.JPG

[GeneralHankerchief]

Tarraco - 381 AD

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_044.JPG

Brinno looked down the hill at the great Roman city in Iberia. It was his first major battle, not counting when Visimar had brought him along in the sack of Avaricum. He would make his King ("Take the city, by all means, but don't wipe out your army in doing so") happy. Although somewhere along the Rhine River his King had turned into a bit of a wuss.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_049.JPG

Really, there was no necessity to be cautious. The Roman commander, Herius Corpulentus (nicknamed so because of his massive gluttony) had only his escort and a band of Foederati Cavalry with him to defend the city. They didn't even attempt to defend the streets, hiding in the city square where their mobility would be of more use.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_045.JPG

Brinno ordered the Vandal army to all march down one street. He figured there would be plenty of time to spread out and surround the enemy once they reached one square. Until then, however, his men were packed tighter than an ancient Greek phalanx.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_046.JPG

But then something happened which he didn't expect. The stupid Roman general charged right into the solid wall of men!

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_047.JPG

They were repulsed with heavy losses, and then Brinno ordered a countercharge. As the last Roman died, he suspected that Julius Caesar was turning in his grave. If it didn't hurt too much, that is.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_048.JPG

Some time later, Visimar visited the smouldering remains of Tarraco and asked Brinno how the battle went. By now every commander knew this meant that they were to give a casualty count. Once Brinno gave it to the King, he smiled and clapped him on the back.

"Well done, my boy, well done! Once again the Romans tremble at our might!"

Brinno pulled him aside for a minute.

"My Lord, I have to ask... the men have been through a lot. Will this be the last city we sack? Are we there yet?"

"Not yet, I'm afraid. Don't worry, we'll be there soon enough. Have patience."

As Visimar left, Brinno realized that Visimar of ten years ago would have slaughtered the Visimar of today for saying such an un-warrior-like thing. The men were noticeably less jubilant in collecting their gold, he noted.

...

The march continued. Clearly the only person in the entire Vandal population who knew where they were going was their King, Visimar. Finally, as the summer waned he pulled Gondegusulus, his son, heir, and best general aside.

"Gondegusulus, our destination lies close. But we need to demonstrate to the Romans one more time that their time is nearly gone. I am detaching your army to Carthago Nova. I expect you to sack it as quick as you can, with minimal losses. The rest of us will go through the hills of Iberia. You take the road to Corduba. We will meet there and begin our new civilization."

Gondegusulus grinned and began to give the order.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_050.JPG

~~~~~~~

The Alps

"Is putting the setting 'The Alps' really necessary at this point?" Marcus Flavius roared at his scribe. "I mean, where else would I be with my giant army that could remedy this situation?"

Marcus was angry at the Emperor again. The man sat idly by as another province -Iberia- was getting lost to him piece by piece. At this point he was seriously thinking of using an assassin he had garnered into his service (with red hair too, so odd) to kill the stupid idiot. But he thought better of it. And so, Marcus remained in his tent in the Alps and waited for the Emperor's orders to attack - and received messages that the Empire was falling.

Tarraco came first. Herius Corpulentus was a glutton; true. But he was a good man and no doubt initiated that stupid charge to die honorably.

Then, in an unexpected move, he read that Visimar had detached Gondeguslus to sack Carthago Nova. The heir had arrived in the Winter of 381, trapping Publius Flavius inside.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_051.JPG

Publius was the heir of the Western Empire. He had promised Marcus to use all his influence to persuade the current Augustus to activate Marcus' force, but no dice. And now he was sure to die. Another ally surely gone. Marcus wondered if he would ever leave the Alps.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_052.JPG

Marcus knew that Publius had one hope - the elite infantry inside the city, including a cohort of Auxilia Palatina. If they could make a stand in a closed area... but Marcus realized how much luck was against him and decided to just read the report.

He was right. Gondegusulus had mounted ballistae on top of his towers, effectively wiping out the Comitatenses on the wall. He must have gotten that idea from his father, an expert of logistics.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_053.JPG

However, not all was lost. One tower went up in flames, thus weakening the Vandal force that was to come on the walls. If the infantry could somehow hold them back...

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_054.JPG

The decimated Comitatenses, pinned against the gatehouse, fought like heroes but simply couldn't win against the crush of numbers.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_055.JPG

And so the city was opened up. The Auxilia Palatina were quickly activated to meet the force by the gates where hopefully a Thermopylae could take place. But what they didn't count on were their own towers firing on them. Their numbers going down fast, they fled for cover, unaware of Gondegusulus' escort charging their rear.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_056.JPG

The Auxilia Palatina were easily destroyed but Gondegusulus saw impressive reinforcements arriving - Publius himself, along with his escort. He scrambled to reorganize his force and form a countercharge.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_057.JPG

At this point, Marcus read the words of a villager who witnessed the battle.

So there they were - the two heirs charging each other. That Vandal guy (won't even try to pronounce his name) finished mopping up the infantry just in time to meet Caesar Flavius. They fought evenly for a little bit, and then I saw something that turned my blood cold - the rest of the Vandals arriving.

I yelled out- "Caesar! Behind you!" but of course nobody heard me. So the rest of those brown guys came and finished up our horses pretty quickly, but Publius was pretty defiant. He was screaming and cussing at the Vandal guy, then he said something about the Elysian fields, but the bad guys got tired of it.

So they knock Publius out of the saddle and then slash the horse. So our Caesar dies not by the hand of the enemy, but because his own horse fell on him and broke every bone in his body. Not the way you want to go, huh?

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_058.JPG

Anyway, you can get the rest of the report from someone else. With our commander dead, I'm getting the heck outta here before they kill everyone in it.

But there was really nothing left to report. Holding the center square were a cohort of Foederati and a single horseman of Publius' escort who had suddenly managed to escape.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_059.JPG

Obviously, they were easily destroyed.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_060.JPG

Another city was in ruins.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_061.JPG

Winter, 382

Did the Empire exist anymore outside of Rome itself? Marcus wasn't sure after he reviewed the situation:

-The Burgundii were currently taking the mountain pass to Venetia.
-The Sarmatians had gotten there first and were besieging Ravenna.
-The Lombardi, of course, had settled in Mediolanium and beginning efforts to expand.
-The Huns had had enough of the Eastern Empire and were besieging Aquincum.
-The Franks were besieging Arles, one of the few parts of Gaul that still remained Roman.
-And finally, the Vandal horde had reunited and were besieging Corduba.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_062.JPG

All of this and here he was, doomed to stay in the Alps for eternity, watching as every single horde faction was in Roman territory. At this point Jesus himself would have to save the Empire.

http://home.comcast.net/~general_hankerchief/onlinestorage/vandal_pbm_063.JPG

[econ21]

A New Homeland

Visimar stared at the magnificent Roman city of Corduba lying before him. It was his for the taking - the entire Vandal horde had converged on the southern Spanish city. The people of the city had refused to aid their hated governor, Servius the Executioner. He was holed up with only his few German bodyguards and a motley company of hired thugs. Where were the great Roman legions of legend? Is this how the Empire dies? With a whimper?

https://img365.imageshack.us/img365/7933/vandal1kc1.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

"Are we there yet?" .... "YES!"

The contest for the city forum was confused and brutal, but never in doubt. The Romans had charged Visimar as soon as they had seem him arriving, at the head of his column. The King, hesistant as always, had sought to evade the foederati and then Servius' escort, but each time had been caught up in the fighting. However, the Vandal escort were fine fighters and able to hold off the Romans until the main body of the Vandal army arrived to decide the matter.

https://img359.imageshack.us/img359/2109/vandal2yg7.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

In the background, Visimar looks on as the doomed Servius sigals his defiance.

**************************

After the battle, a weary Visimar reclined on the marble chair in Servius's court in the Governor's Palace. He looked at the fountains outside and the vines growing up the white walls.

"A man could get used to this." he sighed.

One of Visimar's two grandsons, Varugio, smiled widely and nodded in ascent. But a snort of derision came from behind the young man. Gildo, the younger son of the king, was making his presence felt.

Visimar looked up, inquiringly at the brooding prince: "You do not approve?"

Gildo looked around, as if assessing the situation. "Father, we came to bury Rome, not praise her".

Visimar nodded, reluctantly. "You are right. We must not get too comfortable here. There is still a way to go. Carthage is our next destination. We must begin building boats to carry us across the straits. I will lead us there, of course. And I will take Gondegusulus with me."

His son and heir looked up, surprised. He had wondered if he would be given the task of governing Cordoba. But he was to accompany his father, who would govern here...

Visimar continued to stare at Gildo: "You may not desire it, but this is yours. I give you Iberia - to guard and to govern as you see fit. Most of our people will follow me across the waters, but we will not abandon this place. And I am trusting to you that we will not lose it."

Gildo nodded stiffly, respectfully. "Sire, if I am to rule this place, we should not stop at Corduba. Our spies have identified a rich Roman city to the north, Salamantica. I propose that we take it immediately. I would also like permission to return to Carthago Nova. Now that we are settling here, it is important to secure that city, sacked and ruined though it may be."

Visimar agreed and then began preparations for slowly ferrying the Vandal horde over the straits of Gibraltar.

https://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2008/vandal3py8.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

Having only a few small boats, the Vandals must slowly begin ferrying their men across to Africa.

*************************

Things started to go wrong after the Vandals seized Salamantica. Half of their army dispersed and started to settle in Spain. A similar thing had happened before, after taking Cordoba, but the horde had been sufficiently large than it had not concerned Visimar unduly. But when Salamantica fell, he realised that - unless they reached Carthage soon, his entire army would be gone. There then began a race between the small Vandal armies trekking east across Africa and Gildo's army besieging Carthago Nova. If Gildo's army took Carthago Nova first, before the Vandals took Carthage, then the horde would completely disband and the Vandal field armies shrink to next to nothing.

Visimar endeavoured to recruit semi-professional warriors from Cordoba and Salamatanica - men who could be relied upon to serve, even after the people had all been settled. However, it was a slow process - there was also a need to build boats, given the large pirate fleets drawn to Cordoba. Moreover, the race for Carthage meant that the armies spearheading the advance were those brought from Germany - men eager to settle and not the newly recruited semi-professional warriors.

In the end, Visimar conceded defeat and called off the race. As the lead Vandal army approached Carthage, a rebellion errupted against its Berber overlords and reinstated the Romans as the city's rulers. The natives formed a sizable army to defend the city and it was clear it would only be taken after a long seige had starved them out. Reluctantly, Visimar recalled an angry Gildo from his siege of Carthago Nova. The Vandals could not afford to get too comfortable in Spain until Carthage had fallen.

https://img243.imageshack.us/img243/4756/vandal4cf3.jpg (https://imageshack.us)

As the Vandals approach Carthage, a Roman rebellion expels the Berbers from the city.

Worse was yet to come, as large pirate fleets sank the nascent Vandal fleet and circled the Gibralter straits like hungry sharks. Luckily, before this catastrophe, Visimar had managed to ferry across Gildo and an army made up mainly of semi-professional warriors. But the King and his heir, Gondegusulus, were now stranded in Spain.

The siege of Carthage dragged on. Visimar himself slipped out of this world. Eventually, the great city fell - its depleted, starving garrison sallying out to die from Vandal arrows. But the new King, Gondeguslus, was trapped far away in Cordoba. The newly formed Vandal kingdom was divided. And the final objective of Rome seemed unattainable.

Visimar had forgotten the words of the Frankish witch - to preserve his forces and keep the horde concentrated. Somewhere in the Rhine wald an ancient voice cackled with laughter.

[GeneralHankerchief]

Corduba, 394 AD

"Everybody out!"

Gondegusulus, King of the Vandals, looked out the top window of his palace. The city below him was mayhem. They had been rioting for a year now, but it had never been this bad. Thousands of angry peasants were carrying torches and anything remotely resembling a weapon and were marching through the streets, burning and causing chaos.

Finally, once the market had gone up in smoke, he signalled the order to his escort. They would alert the remainder of the garrison that it was time to abandon the city. He watched as his soldiers fled, finding empty streets and safely making their way out of the city.

He waited until the last of the soldiers that he could see went through the gates. This was risky, as the peasants were starting to swarm around him. But he was a proud king and would not exit until everyone else under his comand was safe. Finally, the order was given.

"MOVE!"

Gondegusulus' escort of 45 men, all on horseback, charged down one of the streets leading out of the central plaza. Several of the peasants jumped out of the way, but more stood their ground. Due to sheer momentum, they were run over by the horsemen. Once the initial charge had lost its brunt, Gondegusulus and his men were forced to slash their way to salvation.

At the gates, a large group of peasants had bolted them shut and blocked the way. The two forces stood opposite each other, doing nothing. Then the king let out a mighty bellow and as one, his escort charged. After the small melee had ended and the dust cleared, the gates were kicked open and the peasants lay dead. Gondegusulus sighed in relief. They had escaped.

Late that night, when he had regrouped the army a safe distance away from the city, Gondegusulus took a casualty count. When the final losses became known to him, he chuckled. The last thing he thought before falling asleep was that Visimar would have been proud of me.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_067.jpg

The next day, the king did a little bit of reflecting over the past eleven years. He remembered the initial capture of Corduba, the glory of him riding in along with his father, facing little resistance. It was in sharp contrast to his final exit, a desperate kill-everything-in-your-path-to-survive attempt at getting out alive. When riding in, he sensed something in this Roman city that he didn't in any of the other places they had raided. There was opposition. Even after Roman power had been declining for generations, these people, these Iberians were still game. Rome had failed to completely pacify these people.

Still though, the people of Corduba had been easy to please for ten years. All Gondegusulus really had to do was watch as Salmantica and Carthage were taken, and notice that the Western Empire was growing again under the leadership of Marcus Flavius, even though their core territories were lost.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_065.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_064.jpg

He had became king some time before Carthage was taken, and when it was in 382 Gondegusulus' first act was to make it the capital. He couldn't explain exactly why; but he'd had it in his mind ever since Vicus Franki had been sacked.

As soon as that happened, Corduba went from peaceful city to hotbed of chaos. The peasants had first rioted in the Winter of 393.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_066.jpg

Gondegusulus had tried to lower taxes in vain. The riots had gotten worse, and yesterday it was at the point of revolt. Salmantica was now the only territory he held in Iberia and that was also experiencing order problems, though not as badly.

He now had a decision to make: Where to take his army? It would definitely conquer another city, it was costing him far too much to do nothing. Duva was taking a small force to Carthago Nova, it was expected to fall easily. Would he go back to Corduba? No, because taking it would just be a mess. Then he remembered - Tingi. He had boats. The pirates were around Carthage. The garrison there wasn't much. So, Gondegusulus turned his army south.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_068.jpg

His only hope was that the Romano-Iberians would be content with Corduba and not attack his force while they were ferrying across the strait.

But it was no use. Two units of swordsmen were caught by a Romano-Iberian force.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_069.jpg

Captain Buckhard had lined his men up against an abandoned pen, hoping that his men would this way kill many Romano-Iberians before finally succumbing.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_070.jpg

But the enemy had simply used pila and arrows to slaughter them from a distance. Charging in desperation, Captain Buckhard was repulsed and his men broke, fleeing.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_071.jpg

Many of the men would make it to Salmantica, where Chariomerus, a man who used to be a member of the King's escort before Gondegusulus assigned him to run Salmantica.

~~~~~~~

In Africa, the king's remaining forces besieged Tingi while they awaited word of Duva's assault on Carthago Nova.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_072.jpg

In order to minimize losses, the crafty general had only taken his escort and a unit of mercenary Veterenarii into the city. It had been a success.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_073.jpg

Carthago Nova was once again in Vandal hands, although this time they kept it.

Meanwhile, Tingi was ready to fall. The loss of 160 swordsmen would hurt, but not that much. The garrison was pathetically small.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_074.jpg

All of the Berber garrison (the general's escort and a unit of strange animals that smelled terrible, were these camels perhaps?) were camped in the center square. Gondegusulus ordered a general charge into the area, personally in the thick of the fighting. After all, he was not afraid to lose a few men, unlike his father.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_075.jpg

The enemy general and those strange camel-things had fallen. Tingi was theirs.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_076.jpg

~~~~~~

He looted the place, perhaps out of tradition, perhaps out of necessity. Perhaps both. His treasury was going way down. The glorious plunder taken during the time on the move had evaporated, mostly to salary. Things had been so much simpler when it was just attack anything in your path. Now he had to worry about strategy, if you could believe it.

He had dreamed of taking Corduba back. Not just for vengeance, but also for financial reasons. If he controlled the Strait of Gibralter then the money situation would definitely loosen up.

However, he didn't have much time to muse on this. A messenger had just burst into his palace, obviously out of breath.

"Sir! Sir! Chariomerus reports that the Romano-Iberians are besieging Salmantica!"

Before he could say anything, another person came into the palace. This time it was a soldier.

"My lord, the Berbers have been spotted. They are marching straight for Tingi."

Curses. Two sieges at once. This wouldn't help the financial situation.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_077.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_078.jpg

Gondegusulus turned to the first messenger.

"Make for Carthage. Alert Gildo that he is to head for Syracuse with whatever troops he can spare. We need money, dammit."

The messenger nodded, but spoke anyway. "Sir, can I stay and rest for a little bit? It's been a long ride." Gondegusulus stared at him, eyes bulging. The messenger, completely oblivious, looked around confused. Then the king burst.

"NO, YOU FREAKING IDIOT!!! If you stay and rest then we're all under siege and the message is sent! Now get out of here now before separate your ridiculous brain from the rest of your body!" The messenger, terrified, sprinted out of the palace.

Gondegusulus now spoke to the soldier. "Obviously he didn't go on the march. What a moron. Anyway, tell the soldiers to prepare for assault. I think the Berbers will be anxious to get their city back. Hopefully Chariomerus will realize that a sally would be beneficial to us financially."

Luckily for Gondegusulus, he did.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_079.jpg

The Romano-Iberian force was much smaller, but of better quality. With that in mind, Chariomerus had tried to lure the army into firing range of the city's towers, which were deadly. When they didn't take the bait, Chariomerus cursed.

"Oh well," he sighed. "Time for Plan B."

Plan B was a staggered exit from two gates. The first force would exit and engage the Romano-Iberian army, while the second force made its way to the action and would hit in the rear. When executed properly, the enemy army would be overwhelmed.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_080.jpg

It was executed properly. Later, Chariomerus would hear stories of a Romano-Iberian soldier being impaled through the back, the spear poking out the front, and it breaking through the back of the shield on the initial charge.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_081.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_082.jpg

Gondegusulus, however, knew nothing of this. He only knew that he was losing money fast, and that a Berber army larger than his garrison was about to assault Tingi.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_083.jpg

[GeneralHankerchief]

Tingi, 397 AD

One thing that you could always count on when living in the Steppes were the cold, cold winters. Gondegusulus, king of the Vandals, remembered as a boy how his brother Maroboduus had suffered and almost died one year. He remembered, many years ago when Visimar had begun the march, how much clothing was packed by everyone. They were used to the ice and freezing and snow.

But all of that was gone now. Now the King's army was on the edge of the desert, fighting a fairly big army of people who had grown up with the heat. Oddly enough, Gondegusulus didn't mind the heat at all. Perhaps it had something to do with the fact that the Berbers' ram and siege tower had just been set alight.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_084.jpg

Why on earth would you attempt an assault on the hottest place on Earth in the middle of the summer? Perhaps the Berbers had just taken the heat for granted. After all, they had managed to take Carthage, but then they lost it. Either way, Gondegusulus had started to doubt the enemy general Malikum's strategic acumen. His firepower had just been significantly lessened. Now the only way the Berbers could get in would be by climbing one group of ladders.

Funnel 'em in, Gondegusulus thought as he ordered his best infantry over to to the section of wall that the Berbers would soon be scaling. Due to the bad judgment of attacking in summer, Malikum's advantage of superior numbers had been nullified. The poor men on the ladders found several Vandal swordsmen waiting for them when they finally reached the top.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_085.jpg

The Berber general, instead of realizing that he needed to withdraw and rebuild, instead kept pouring in the men. Gondegusulus decided to personally teach the man a lesson about proper siege tactics. He rode out of the city with his escort and met Malikum head on. It turned out that he fought as badly as he planned.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_086.jpg

Whoever was in command of the remaining Berber cavalry was smarter and ordered his men to withdraw. Tingi had been held.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_087.jpg

After the celebration, Gondegusulus had received more good news. The pirates' hold on the southern Mediterranean had been broken. The Vandal navy was victorious, and Gildo had safely reached Sicily. After the landing had been completed, he moved his army straight for Syracuse.

What he found was an army of peasants that had just rebelled from Roman rule. Preparation for Corduba, he thought as he began to construct the siegeworks. Six months later, he attacked.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_088.jpg

This Aulus Casperius had led the rebellion. He was a firebrand and a good orator, but sadly could not defend a city. This was apparent when, instead of a good unit, he placed only peasants atop the walls.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_089.jpg

They were numerous, but killed easily. And so Aulus was trapped in the center square with the few good units he possessed. They were quickly surrounded and destroyed.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_090.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_091.jpg

Syracuse was theirs, and the looting had solved their money problem.

Temporarily.

~~~~~~~

Tingi, 398

So it all came down to this. The money from Syracuse had quickly evaporated in building projects that would eventually yield more money.

But that was eventually. This is now. They were losing money fast and eventually go bankrupt. Gondegusulus was amazed at how quickly the loot had dried up. There was no way that a mighty kingdom filled with great warriors would die to administrative problems, was there?

He would do two things to solve this. First of all, he was getting older. So Gondegusulus named Vangio his heir over Gildo. Gildo was a much better commander but Vangio had been running Carthage well, and as much as he hated to say it, the Vandals needed a king who could run things financially.

Second, it was now time to retake Corduba. This was pretty much out of necessity, because unless they controlled the strait, then the cash simply wouldn't be coming in.

The problem was, few troops could be spared to take the city. Except for Carthago Nova, every single soldier was needed to battle unrest problems. So the king created a daring plan. Corduba was lightly guarded, and the only other contingent of Romano-Iberian forces were in the middle of the peninsula. He split the forces in Carthago Nova, sending a number of men under Captain Athaneric to take the city. Really, this was their last hope for financial purposes. If this expedition failed, they were finished.

Every day the old king waited with bated breath for the latest reports of Athaneric's position. There was a huge sigh of relief when the force had reached Corduba and began constructing siege equipment. They were almost there.

But then the Romano-Iberians in the center of the peninsula had came south in order to relieve their comrades.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_092.jpg

This would be ugly. Both forces had been causing trouble for the other side ever since 394. The Romano-Iberians had disrupted trade and troop ferrying. The repulse of Salmantica had weakened their force, but would it be enough? This would be their last stand.

A day later, Gondegusulus received a report of the battle. There were no pictures, and the writing did not look like Athaneric's.

"My lord, the battle was a very close-run thing. Our side deployed far from the enemy, and on a slight hill to tire them out."

Curses. Just tell us who won already.

"The two Romano-Iberian forces did not go in together, which was to our advantage. The smaller, weaker force went in first and did minor damage to our men before we sent them routing."

So far so good... Gondegusulus braced for the bad news anyway.

"The second force was much larger and had a cohort of veteranarii and two generals in it. Our men would be no match for these in a straight battle. I ordered our infantry in the center into a shield wall formation to brace for impact. When it happened, my cavalry and a unit of swordsmen slammed into the flank."

So this was Athaneric reporting after all. Maybe, just maybe, he had won.

"Luckily, the Romano-Iberians getting the worst of it were simple Limanteni, who routed fairly quickly. This in turn caused the Veteranarii to rout, as well as both generals. We couldn't believe our luck."

A chain rout! Gondegusulus would bestow every honor upon Athaneric for this. He had saved everything. The king read the final paragraph.

"I write this now from Corduba, where I am currently dictating this letter to a Romano-Iberian under penalty of death if he fails to comply. The Romano-Iberian forces have been utterly defeated and their people put to the sword as an example. My lord, Corduba is once again yours.

"I am your faithful servant,

Captain Athaneric"

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_093.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_094.jpg

YESSSSSS! The money situation was under control. The Romano-Iberians were no more. Berber power had significantly been depleted. Syracuse was bringing loads of cash in.

403 AD

The next few years of Gondegusulus' reign were uneventful. He settled down and ran his empire. He was happy with the overall results. Years later, when the Vandals ruled the world, the historians would rate his reign as a good one.

Oh, there were still things to do. To the northeast lied the reason for the march in the first place. The Huns had settled in Italy, taking Rome and Ravenna. Past them lay the Lombardi, eager for revenge after being displaced. And past them lay the Western Roman Empire, once again gaining power.

But that would be Vangio's problem. As he lay down to sleep for the night, Gondegusulus heard a voice coming from the Rhine. It cackled with approval.

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_096.jpg

https://i113.photobucket.com/albums/n231/GeneralHankerchief/vandal_pbm_095.jpg