Chapter VI: Scipio ante Portas

„Hannibal is what Carthago needs in these days; a man who doesn’t fear the enemy, who knows Rome is mortal and who has the courage to try the impossible. Oh my Hannibal where are you?.“ – Gildo

Ortygia is the cradle of Siracusae. Gainas would like to rename the small island off the coast of Sicilia, give her a title that suits her more, now that the Vandals rule here. The people should know from the name alone that not Romans or Greeks are in control of island and city but Vandals. Maybe: Gainasia, Gainopolis; no, he is not King, that’s not appropriated. Godigisela, or –um, or maybe Godigiselopolis; no, to long and this bastard is not worth having a city named in his honour. Vandalia? 

For now Gainas has to think about other thinks, than names, more important things. Alaric and Honorius ordered ships. A whole fleet they want, where is he supposed to get so many ships from, maybe from the harbour right next to him?  Yes, there are ships, many of them and they actually belong to the Empire but why should he give them back? He conquered the island with them, in Honorius’ name, but he never gave the island back. How can he now trust the emperor, Gainas stole from him and defraud him of his island, why shouldn’t he seeks revenge, why shouldn’t he betray him? No ship will leave this island towards Africa to defeat the Tyrant of Carthago, at least not without loyal Vandals. If the Usurper should fall than he should fall through German hands.

What has Honorius without Gainas? Nothing! An empire, he doesn’t control but Alaric, provinces in rebellion and nearly no ships to beat them down. With some bad luck Africa could even fall to Arcadius, if the East feels like grabbing for it. What is Gainas without Honorius; a dubious ally, maybe a pirate, a potential target for Constantinople or an independent ruler by everything but name? And with Honorius? Maybe he will be the ruler of Africa or maybe nothing but a piece in the great game for Rome. For now it seems the emperor needs Gainas more than the other way around, that means he will get his ships, but not without Vandals. Carthago will fall.

The gates of Carthago, which are now broken, still show how Gildo tried to protect his city - with elephants. Not real ones, but with blood painted, big eared and long nosed animals, guard the gates. Their red bodies are flat and made out of the blood of prisoners, which were taken out of their cells, lost their heads – which were used as terrifying warnings for the Vandals – and were robbed of their blood. But his elephant army couldn’t save Gildo, neither could his human one. The Tyrant of Africa is dead and his palace is conquered. Vandalia would also sound good for this city. But again Gainas has better things to do than thinking of names. Today he will show mercy with four of his prisoners, because the emperor asked for it and he feels like granting him this wish – actually it’s a command but what does he care for Honorius’ commands.

Nearly he would have killed him, killed this ungrateful bastard. What does he think he is, his life depended on him but he was stupid enough to open his mouth and accuse him of murder, what right does he believes he has? Murderer! He did not even touch his father, let alone killing him. Gainas even liked him more or less. But in the end it was his, Stilicho’s, decision to stay with Honorius. They could have marched together at Mediolanum or Constantinople. Not he killed Stilicho, but his own stupidity. How dare Eucherius to call him a murderer ever again. At Narona a potential ally died in Gainas’ eyes, but not an enemy. Eucherius, his mother and his sisters can go away from this place, far away, to a place which was chosen by the court in Arelate. Their new home would be a small but nice mansion near Burdigala, close to the Goths and the Atlantic, far away from the centre of the empire and even farer away from Gainas, who would kill this brat if he would come close to him ever again.

Gildo was dead, Mallius Theodorus not yet and that made him the reason for Gainas to send his troops to the west, to Mauretania, to find the Usurper and to expand his influence. Many inhabitants of Mauretania are Arian Christians, which is a fact that could help Gainas to secure control over his territory; he is an Arian himself, while the emperors are Trinitarians. Vandals and Moors could be the base of Gainas’ rule, but for now the later ones are not yet under his control. Mallius has to be defeated once and for all and Gainas has to do it if he wants control over all of Africa.

Map 

The Western and parts of the Eastern Roman Empire in 407 AD.

Red=Western Empire; Light Red=Goth; Striped=other foederati; Brown=Vandals

Purple=Eastern Empire
Green=Mallius Theodorus' Empire
Magenta=Britannian Empire
Yellow=Gepids