Byzantine Cavalryman vs Vandal Warrior: North Africa AD 533-36

This book explores how the Vandals in North Africa defended their kingdom against the Byzantine Empire during 533–36. It features full-color artwork, mapping, and archive illustrations to show how the Byzantine general Belisarius established his reputation in a lightning-fast campaign. The Vandal king, Gelimer, was surprised by the landing of Belisarius forces, and they fought three battles, with the fate of Gelimer's regime determined in the third battle. The book compares and assesses the two sides' fighting men as they vied for supremacy in North Africa.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 80 pages
Publication date: 25 May 2023
Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing PLC

This captivating study delves into the intriguing endeavors of the Vandals in North Africa to safeguard their kingdom against the resolute Byzantine Empire during the years 533 to 36. In the year AD 533, the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I initiated the first of his campaigns to reclaim the Western Roman Empire. This ambitious endeavor commenced in North Africa, specifically targeting the Vandal kingdom, which had been established a century prior and encompassed regions such as modern-day Algeria, Tunisia, Sardinia, Corsica, and the Balearic Islands. Accompanied by a plethora of full-color artwork, detailed mapping, and carefully selected archive illustrations, this book offers a comprehensive exploration of the events that unfolded during the ensuing lightning-fast campaign. It delves into the origins, tactics, and reputations of both the Byzantine and Vandal forces as they engaged in a fierce battle for control over North Africa.

The landing of Belisarius' forces caught the Vandal king, Gelimer, completely off guard; in September 533, the two sides clashed in a historic encounter near Carthage, known as Ad Decimum. Gelimer ambitiously attempted to ensnare Belisarius' forces as they advanced. In December, the two sides engaged in another pivotal battle at Tricamarum, where the fate of Gelimer's regime hung in the balance. A third and final battle took place in 536, when the rebel Stotzas Byzantine and Vandal troops confronted Belisarius' forces, ultimately solidifying Belisarius' status as the preeminent soldier of his era.

Featuring specially commissioned artwork, intricate mapping, archive illustrations, and photographs, this vivid account provides a comparative analysis of the two sides' fighting men as they vied for supremacy in North Africa.

Weight: 270g
Dimension: 247 x 184 x 7 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781472853707