Gaiseric

"Gaiseric became King of the Vandals in Spain then led them across the sea to seize a new kingdom in North Africa. [He] successfully defeated Roman attempts at reconquest of these vital provinces and his fleets dominated the western Mediterranean. In 455 Gaiseric attacked Italy and sacked Rome itself, making the Vandals a byword for barbaric destruction. Ian Hughes assesses Gaiseric's leadership, revealing him as an astute ruler and one of the most significant figures of this turbulent era."--Back cover.