Gaiseric the Vandal
Historians are excited that they have found a fragment of Gaiseric the Vandal's (389-477) autobiography. The biggest bad ass in the 5th century but overlooked now. Known also as Genseric, Godzillamirek and Ruddy Hooligan. This guy had multiple personalities..
This is one extract. It captures Gaiseric's anger at the lack of historical recognition for what he had achieved.
….what did Attila the Hun do again? Mr Hun Big Noise! Gets beaten at Chalons by Romans, Franks and Visigoths. superstitious moron even stops from getting to Rome because Pope Leo say 'you take it and you will die', just like black candle sucker Alaric the Goth. Barbarian panty wetters the lot of them! I Gaiseric took Rome, the emperor's wife and his two daughters! Gave the pretty one to my son whilst I sold the other and her mother back to the Romans! And that was 22 years ago!!! Hahah...you Nicene Christians with your God exists in three persons (or is it 33?). I am true Christian and anyone calling me an 'Arian' - I will burn his face off.
Call me a Vandal. See this CRASH....and that CRASH...this is my story. I was the one that did in the Roman Empire. I shit scared two empires – burnt the Greek Fleet and stopped St. Augustine his food so he died it agony and fleas at Hippo! How is that for record...and I am just called ' a vandal'. A despoiler.
Today my Vandal empire rules - no better - ROOLS Africa and I have taken islands in the Mediterranean. I was told I would die a dirty death...but today I got news that another German soldier called Odoacer has just called time on the Roman Empire in the West. The Eastern Imperialists won't dare to trouble me. I am the strongest, I am the Vandal they're all scared off.
My story
I was born a Vandal. Broke everything I could lay my hands on...but nothing that belonged to my people, the Vandals. Destroy other people's possessions but not ours. And now I rule Carthage...the new Hannibal! I don't smash things I know own.
Go back I know. I was born in Germany. The place was getting crowded. The Romans were refusing any of us to get across the Rhine to enjoy some decent Roman home comforts. Those bloody forts had kept us out and then...a sign from God. The river froze and I with my people crossed the barrier and we were into Gaul!
What a great delight that was. Romans scattered before us, their armies couldn't get their shit together. I remember the good times we had there. We were with Swabians and Burgundians. Villas burnt...anyway a few years later the bloody Visigoths turn up. Alaric their leader is dead and the Romans want them out of Italy. So they turn those bastards on my people. Chase us into Spain, claiming all the time to be 'working for the Romans'. Yeah...well I even asked the Romans if they want the Vandals to help them! But our name is dirt, those snooty Romans don't want to help.
Life is good in Spain...and then the Visigoths turn up again! What's is with those people? Leave us alone but there are too many of them. We got to get out but not all the Vandals want to leave. I say 'keep running South' but the others want to slip past the Visigoths and go back to Gaul. No way Jose I say. So I kill my brother. Tough descision but the geezer was ready to do a deal with the Visigoths. But I got a better plan. I steal a Roman fleet which is in Cartegena where they are taking on water or something. Kick them off and we're off to North Africa.
Wow. That was hot but come on, we've been in Spain for sometime. The Romans in North Africa said we are welcome to go there but that turns out to be a general rebelling against emperor Valentinian. This war isn't so easy. We get to Hippo and St.Augustine sends a message to us that our 'heretical guts will spill out if we attack his home city. My boys do it anyway and the old hypocrite dies. Yeah, write a Confession about that Augustine!
What I did next
The Romans 'give' me Africa when I capture Carthage but I want more! Recognition!! Respect!!! I ask Valentinian to send me one of his daughters. He says no but then is killed. I want to collect what is mine. I take my fleet to Rome. Pope Leo I tells me if I take the city I will die in a year, reminds me that Alaric was a dead Goth within months of taking the city and Attila was scared off from doing the same. I listen to this Pope, tell him I will just take everything but spare the lives of those miserable people. I won't die, and I don't. I am still alive 27 years later! Haha!!
My victorious Vandals take tons and tons of booty on our ships to take back to Carthage. Hannibal Revenged! I also collect Valentinian's widow and both his daughters. I hold what legitimacy the Romans once had. I have the imperial family. Now I can go ahead with that marriage to my son Huneric (I would have called him Attila but I am Christian).
Then the Romans come knocking on my door. Their empires invade my domain but I chased them both away, sinking their fleets and killing their soldiers. I am invincible.
Remember the name!! I may be nearly 90 but I am fighting fit!
CRASH..WALLOP...DESTROY....If you don't like something...SMASH IT UP!!!...ah..er...nurse? GET ME MY.....
The extract finishes here. Gaiseric died in 477. His Vandal Empire lasted until 534 when it was conquered in the name of Emperor Justinian.
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