Europe 463: Battle of Orléans

Political map of Europe & the Mediterranean on sum 463 (Fall of the Western Empire: Battle of Orléans), showing the following events: Vandal War; Gundioc; Suebian civil war; Battle of Orléans.

In 463 the Visigoths, in alliance with the Western Roman emperor Libius Severus, mounted an offensive to eliminate Aegidius’ regime in northern Gaul. However, supported by the Alans and Salian Franks, Aegidius decisively defeated the invaders near Aurelianum (Orléans), ending Visigothic hopes of expanding beyond the Loire.

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Main Events

463 Vandal War

Following the Western Roman Empire’s refusal to hand over the inheritances of Valentinian III’s daughter Eudocia and Aetius’ son Gaudentius to the Vandals in 462, the Vandal king Gaiseric launched fresh attacks on Italy and Sicily in the spring of 463. This time, in addition to the inheritances, Gaiseric demanded that Olybrius—married to Eudocia’s sister Placidia—be made Western Roman emperor. In this new offensive, the Vandals ignored well-defended cities to focus on ravaging unprotected lands, probably including the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. in wikipedia

463 Gundioc

Between mid 462 and October 463, the Western Roman generalissimo Ricimer dismissed the unpopular Agrippinus as magister militum per Gallias and appointed the Burgundian king Gundioc in his place. In addition, Gundioc was tied to the Western Roman regime by marrying Ricimer’s sister. Gundioc’s appointment as magister—the first time a reigning barbarian king had been given the title—acknowledged the waning influence of Roman Italy in Gaul. in wikipedia

463–464 Suebian civil war

In 463 Rechimund’s Suebi broke their treaty with the Romans and returned to pillaging parts of Gallaecia. In response, the Visigoths dispatched the Suebian prince Remismund to the region with a force of Goths. Although clashes continued for some months, Remismund eventually restored peace and, when the rival Suebian king Frumar died in early 464, successfully united all the Suebi under his rule. in wikipedia

463 Battle of Orléans

In 463 Frederic, younger brother of King Theodoric II, led the Visigothic army north into Gaul to crush the revolt of the Roman general Aegidius against the Western Roman regime of Libius Severus. Supported by the Alans and Childeric’s Salian Franks, Aegidius met the invaders in battle between the Loire and Loiret rivers near Aurelianum (Orléans) and decisively defeated them. Frederic himself was killed in the encounter, placing the Visigothic succession in jeopardy as he seems to have been Theodoric’s designated heir. in wikipedia