Europe 460: Battle of Elche

By 460 Majorian was ready to mount an expedition to recover Africa from the Vandals and in May he led an army across the Pyrenees into Hispaniae to join his fleet at Elche. However, at that point the Vandals struck, dashing any hopes he had of success by destroying or capturing his ships in port.

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27 Mar–? ?? 460 Battles over Lucus Augusti ▲

During Easter 460 local Suebi made a surprise attack on Lucus Augusti (Lugo), killing the city governor. In response, a Visigothic contingent set upon Suebi in and around the city but was forced to withdraw when betrayed by informers. Urged on by these same informers, Frumar—who had succeeded Maldras as king of the Suebi after the latter’s assassination in February—proceeded to raid Aquae Flaviae (Chaves) while his rival king Rechimund ravaged Aurengenses (Ourense) and the Gallaecian coast. This three-way conflict continued until late in the year, when an uneasy peace was established between both Suebian factions and the Romans of Gallaecia. in wikipedia

460 Gaiseric’s peace overtures ▲

In early 460, learning that the Western Roman emperor Majorian was assembling a fleet in Hispaniae for the reconquest of Africa from the Vandals, the Vandal king Gaiseric sent ambassadors to the Romans in the hope of negotiating peace. However, Majorian was unmoved, provoking Gaiseric to lay waste to the country of Mauretania, destroying croplands and poisoning wells, to prevent the Romans from marching across that region on their journey to Carthage. in wikipedia

460–461 Marcellinus in Sicily ▲

In early 460 the general Marcellinus—who had retained a level of independence in Dalmatia—traveled with his army to Sicily in order to support the Western Roman emperor Majorian by defending the island from attack. It seems he was needed as, shortly afterwards, he routed and massacred a force of Vandals, driving the survivors back to their ships. However, after Majorian’s assassination in August 461, Ricimer attempted to bribe Marcellinus’ mostly Hunnic troops to turn against him, persuading the general to abandon Sicily and return to Dalmatia. in wikipedia

May 460 Majorian’s Campaign in Hispaniae ▲

In May 460 the Western Roman emperor Majorian crossed the Pyrenees from Gaul into Hispaniae, where he was gathering a combined Roman–Visigothic army led by his magister militum Nepotianus and the Visigothic general Sunieric. At the same time, he assembled a fleet of three hundred ships at Portus Illicitanus, near Carthago Nova (Cartagena), with the intention of transporting his forces across the Mediterranean to North Africa and retaking Carthage from the Vandals. However, his plans were soon thwarted when the Vandals attacked and destroyed his fleet, compelling him to return to Italy in frustration. in wikipedia

May 460 Battle of Elche ▲

To prepare for his planned expedition against the Vandal Kingdom in Africa in 460, the Western Roman emperor Majorian assembled a fleet of some three hundred ships at Portus Illicitanus (Harbor of Elche, Santa Pola), north of Carthago Nova (Cartagena) in Hispaniae. However, just as Majorian was marching towards the province of Carthaginiensis to join his fleet, the Vandals attacked Elche with a fleet of their own and either burned or captured most of his ships. Struck by this disaster, the emperor abandoned all hope of regaining Africa and returned to Gaul. in wikipedia