Late Roman Army during the 5th century

[Robert Vermaat]

According to a contemporary account the Vandals destroyed orchards to ensure that those who fled into mountain caves would have nothing to eat after they passed.

After they passed where? They were not nomads and the habitable zone in Africa is not that large - in order to remain anywhere themselves such actions would be suicide. Perhaps the source refers to the Vandals leaving Tingitania and Mauretania when they went for Carthage? But that would be different from how they raided a place, I think. Otherwise, exaggeration is also a legal part of any source in Late Antiquity. :wink:

[quote="Tim Donovan" post=318846]If the aim was just to provide military support to Bonafatius, it's odd that the whole Vandal population came, instead of just warriors. I don't think Hun civilians came with the warriors who fought under Aetius. Bringing civilians with them indicates the Vandals were seeking new homes i.e. taking Roman territory--the difference between getting help and treason, IF Bonafatius did invite them.[/quote} The difference between the Vandals and the Huns (of whom we don't know anything of their dependents btw) could be that a) Aetius needed a fast army (Iohannes was in trouble) and b) that the Vandals would never have left their dependents in Spain while crossing to Africa. Besides, we hear of Stilicho employing germanics whose dependents were also in Italy - not much of a difference.