A typically excellent book by Hughes - well written, readable, excellently researched. Gaiseric wasn't a figure I was that familiar with - the Vandal kingdom didn't last long but it was a major thorn in the side of Rome, perhaps the most major thorn, and that was due to Gaiseric. He was king when the tribes were just kind of hanging around in Spain, but then got ambitious and crossed into Africa. They took over a little bit and then the whole lot which had massive ramifications because Rome relied on Africa for its food.
Rome might've survived but Gaiseric kept hammering away at the empire in raids, even sacking Rome. He kidnapped the Empress Eudoxia (wife of Valentinian III), seemingly at her request, and she and her daughter Eudocia lived with Gaiseric for a long while. Eudocia married his son and eventually went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem before she died... which is kind of a romantic story that I'm surprised isn't better known.
Gaiseric was skilled and wily and obviously very good at politics and war. He knew when the seize opportunities, when to be friends, when to delay, when to act quickly - he fought off two major invasions from Rome by quick thinking and anticipatory battles (the first from Majorian, which prompted the stupid Romans to kill a competent commander, the second big invasion from the East really should have defeated him).
Occasionally I got lost who was who and got confused with all the Roman civil wars but it was a very good book.
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