Europe 466: Gaiseric’s Eastern offensive

Following the death of Majorian in 461, the Western Romans had refused to pay the agreed upon tribute to the Vandal king Gaiseric, who responded by launching annual raids on Italy and its islands. In 466, perhaps angered by Eastern Roman involvement in the defence of Italy, Gaiseric extended these raids to the Eastern Empire, striking at the coasts of Illyricum and Greece.

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14 Nov 465 Death of Libius Severus ▲

In November 465 the Western Roman emperor Libius Severus died in Rome, apparently of natural causes and still officially unrecognized by the Eastern emperor Leo I. Following this, the magister militum Ricimer left the appointment of a new emperor to Leo while he himself continued on as de facto ruler of what remained of the Western Empire. This interregnum lasted until April 467, when the new Eastern candidate Anthemius arrived with an army to take up his rule in Rome. in wikipedia

465–466 Hormidac ▲

In the winter of 465/466 a force of Huns led by Hormidac crossed the frozen Danube and, after ravaging the Diocese of Dacia, seized Serdica (Sofia). In response, the Eastern Roman general Anthemius marched out with an army and laid siege siege to the city but, when the Huns emerged to do battle, his cavalry commander deserted to them. Despite this, Anthemius defeated the Huns, allowing Hormidac to return home on condition that he execute the traitor. in wikipedia

466 Lazic war ▲

In around 466 the Eastern Romans sent the general Heraclius to support the Kingdom of Lazica in its renewed war with Persia and Iberia. Soon after the general arrived, however, the Persians were forced to withdraw to deal with other adversaries—most likely the Saragurs and the Kidarites. No longer threatened and unwilling to strain his resources by supplying a Roman army, the King of Lazica promptly dismissed his allies. in wikipedia

466 Gaiseric’s Eastern offensive ▲

In 466, perhaps in retaliation for Eastern Roman support of Marcellinus in Sicily in 465, the Vandal king Gaiseric launched a naval offensive on the Eastern Empire. Attacking unexpectedly and apparently evading any Eastern fleets, the Vandals plundered not just Illyricum, where Marcellinus had his power base, but also the Peloponnese, mainland Greece, and the Greek islands. This ended any pretense of peace between the Vandals and the Eastern Empire, convincing Emperor Leo I to organize a campaign to destroy the Vandal Kingdom in Africa once and for all. in wikipedia

466 Saragur invasion of Persia ▲

In 466 the Saragurs, no doubt accompanied by their allies the Onogurs and Oghurs, marched on Persia, traveling along the Caspian Sea coast to the Caucasus. When they found the Derbent Pass well fortified, the invaders turned inland and, moving through the Darial Gorge, ravaged Iberia and Armenia. Already engaged in a lengthy war against the Kidarites in the east, the alarmed Persians sent an embassy to the Romans asking for support in defending the Caucasus passes but were rebuffed. in wikipedia

466 Death of Valamir ▲

In the mid 460s a raiding party led by the Suebian king Hunimund was captured by the Ostrogothic king Theodemir near Lake Pelso (Balaton), but was allowed to return home. Despite this act of mercy, the aggrieved Hunimund incited his neighbors the Sciri to end their friendship with the Ostrogoths and instead ally with him. Crossing the Danube, the Sciri attacked the Ostrogoths, killing their high king Valamir when he fell from his horse in battle. Both sides then appealed to the Eastern Roman emperor Leo I, who, rejecting the council of his magister militum Aspar to maintain neutrality, opted to support the Sciri. in wikipedia

466 Downfall of Ardabur ▲

In the mid 460s Tarasis, an Eastern Roman official of Isaurian birth, approached Emperor Leo I with letters allegedly written by the magister militum per Orientem (commander in the East) Ardabur to incite the Persians to attack the Roman Empire and promising cooperation with them. Leo responded by interrogating Ardabur’s father, the influential general and patrician Aspar, over his son’s behavior, then dismissed Ardabur from his post and recalled him to Constantinople. As a reward for his services, Tarasis was appointed comes domesticorum and, after adopting the Greek name Zeno, married to Leo’s daughter Ariadne. in wikipedia