- At the Battle of Cape Bon (468 CE), Anthemius, Emperor of the Western Roman Empire, and Leo I, Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire, combined forces to attack the Vandal King, Geiseric, and invade the Capital of the Vandal Kingdom at Carthage.
The Reason for the Battle
- It was a last attempt by the combined forces of the Eastern and Western Empire to dislodge the Vandals from North Africa and save the Western Roman Empire.
The Battle
- It was one of the Classical World’s greatest military amphibious operations, with 1,113 vessels (Cedrenus) and 50,000 men. Various writers recorded the Battle including Procopius, who estimated 100,000 men.
- The Commander Basilicus anchored off Cape Bon, 40 miles (64km) from Carthage, whereupon Gaiseric, requested 5 days grace to present a Peace Treaty.
- However, Gaiseric created a fleet of fireships which were launched at the anchored Roman Fleet, and as ships tried to escape they were attacked by the Vandal Fleet. Half the Roman Fleet was lost along with 10,000 Roman soldiers, Basilicus fled with the other half.
The Outcome
- It was the last attempt to save the Western Roman Empire which fell in 476 CE.
- The Reconquest of North Africa was finally achieved by the Roman Empire in the East under General Belisarius in 533 CE.
Cape Bon, Tunisia