WI: Marjorian Wins Battle of Cartagena

In 461, Majorian was preparing for an attack on the Vandals, hoping to be able to regain the crucial province of North Africa. Majorian had already defeated Theodoric's Visigoths and restored Roman rule in Southern Gaul and was marching towards Cartagena in order to join forces with his fleet and launch the invasion. The Vandals struck first before the Roman navy became unstoppable, so on May 13, a small Vandal fleet made a gamble and surprised the Roman navy at Cartagena. Many of the Roman captains had been bribed to switch sides, and the Roman navy was crushed. This caused Majorian's fall from power.

So, what if Majorian had won the battle? Is it possible that he could completely oust the Vandals from North Africa in an invasion? How does he deal with Ricimer? After taking Vandal North Africa, I can see him trying to quietly do away with Ricimer before Ricimer does away with him.
 
Well if the Romans had better leadership in that campaign and/or had suspected the Vandal trick they would have won... However that could buy some time for the Romans to regroup andeal with the oter barbarians. But i dont know if its enough as the west was being pressed from all sides by then and had a good portion of barbarians inside their own army who they could mutiny if things turned ugly...
 
The key here is North Africa. If Majorian can wrestle back control, then He's in business.

Ηe would be able to secure grain supplies from Carthage but that could be enough? He wae pressed by Visigoths and Franks so after crushing the Vandals he would have to hurry back to Italy... He would do that or make a hasty peace and return to Italy immediatelly risking a Vandal revolt while he is busy with the Visigoths...
 
Ηe would be able to secure grain supplies from Carthage but that could be enough? He wae pressed by Visigoths and Franks so after crushing the Vandals he would have to hurry back to Italy... He would do that or make a hasty peace and return to Italy immediatelly risking a Vandal revolt while he is busy with the Visigoths...

North Africa was absolutely vital. As long as the empire controls North Africa, they can continue on indefinitely IMO. Plus, it also gives him a nice new tax base to raise money from.
 
North Africa was absolutely vital. As long as the empire controls North Africa, they can continue on indefinitely IMO. Plus, it also gives him a nice new tax base to raise money from.

If the Vandals are crushed and N. Africa is looted by Romans then there is no tax base to draw money from there... But even if things go smoothly for Majorian in N. Africa how can he be in 2 places in the same time? I mean if Majorian is busy crushing Vandals, Visigoths might be tempted to invade Italy.
 
The empire was weak but not helpless as majorian showed. The main problem is main problem was always ricimer. Retaking north africa would have given him leverage to deal with ricimer and probably a fresh population base to recruit from.
 
If the Vandals are crushed and N. Africa is looted by Romans then there is no tax base to draw money from there... But even if things go smoothly for Majorian in N. Africa how can he be in 2 places in the same time? I mean if Majorian is busy crushing Vandals, Visigoths might be tempted to invade Italy.
Didn't Majorian just get done defeating the Visigoths?
 
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