AD 468, The invasion of the North African Vandal kingdom succeeds, and the Eastern Roman military occupies the capital. What are the odds that they would attempt to maintain administrative and military control over the region?
AD 468, The invasion of the North African Vandal kingdom succeeds, and the Eastern Roman military occupies the capital. What are the odds that they would attempt to maintain administrative and military control over the region?
Slim, I think. The whole effort was part of a two pronged plan by Constantinople to prop up the west. The first part had already succeeded, with the reigning Western Emperor Anthemius a former Eastern general. I can't see Leo I wanting to undermine Anthemius.
Err... But they sure wouldn't want Barbarians to take the kingdom back (whether Vandals, Xgoths, or tribesmen from the desert). Given how shaky the WRE was at that point (wasn't it?), setting up a e.g. Tetrarchy, with 4 Caesars (and de facto 3 of them reporting to Byzantium) might make a lot of sense.
How? The Vandals were raiding the sea for at least a few years before they were able to master it enough to cross over into Africa. And even then, it's possible that Boniface had something to do with helping them across. It was a one in a million fluke chance that they got to Africa. How difficult it is to actually get to Africa for barbarians was put on full display by how horribly Alaric's plans for the Goths to sail there failed.Err... But they sure wouldn't want Barbarians to take the kingdom back (whether Vandals, Xgoths, or tribesmen from the desert).