King
Genseric, fearing a
Roman invasion, tries to negotiate peace with Majorian, who refuses. The
Vandals devastate
Mauretania and
Moorish warriors poison the wells.
Majorian assembles a large fleet in
Nova Carthago (Cartagena) in preparation for an invasion of the
Vandal Kingdom in Africa. However, King Genseric organizes an attack on the fleet, using individuals sympathetic to the Vandals to conduct the raid. The fleet is destroyed and the expedition is abandoned.[1]
September 2 – A fire begins in
Constantinople and, over the next six days, destroys the buildings in eight of the 14 sections into which the Eastern Roman Imperial capital had been divided.[5]
Ricimer, de facto ruler, establishes political control for 2 years from his residence in
Rome.
April 12 – Emperor
Leo I has his general
Anthemius elected emperor of the
Western Roman Empire. He allies himself with
Ricimer, de facto ruler of
Rome, and marries Anthemius's daughter
Alypia to him, to strengthen the relationship and end the hostilities between the Eastern and Western Empire.
Emperor
Leo I assembles a massive naval expedition at
Constantinople, which costs 64,000 pounds of
gold (more than a year's revenue) and consists of over 1,100 ships carrying 100,000 men. It is the greatest fleet ever sent against the
Vandals and brings Leo near to
bankruptcy.
August – Marcellinus is murdered in Sicily, probably at the instigation of his political rival,
Ricimer. Heraclius is left to fight alone against the Vandals; after a 2-year campaign in the
desert he returns to Constantinople.
Basiliscus returns to Constantinople after a disastrous expedition against the Vandals. He is forced to seek sanctuary in the church of
Hagia Sophia to escape the wrath of the people. Leo I gives him imperial
pardon, but banishes him for 3 years to
Heraclea Sintica (
Thrace).
Dengizich, son of
Attila the Hun, sends an
embassy to Constantinople to demand money. Leo I offers the
Huns settlement in Thrace in exchange for recognition of his authority. Dengizich refuses and crosses the
Danube.
Roman forces under
Anagast defeat the Huns at the river
Utus (Vit, Bulgaria). Dengizich is killed and his head is paraded through the streets of Constantinople. Stuck on the end of a wooden pole, it is displayed above the
Xylokerkos Gate.[6]
The Vandals reconquer Sicily, administering a decisive defeat to the
Western forces.
^ "Fires, Great", in The Insurance Cyclopeadia: Being an Historical Treasury of Events and Circumstances Connected with the Origin and Progress of Insurance, Cornelius Walford, ed. (C. and E. Layton, 1876) pp24