Who were "The Vandals"?

The Vandals are thought to have originally come from Scandinavia; an East Germanic tribe appearing to have wandered south until they came upon the Roman Empire and barbarians such as Huns and Goths. They settled in what we now know as Poland around 120 BC. They were tall and blond haired, and in the 6th century Byzantine historian Procopius wrote: "For they all have white bodies and fair hair, and are tall and handsome to look upon".

The Vandals moved around Europe, at war with other armies and eventually acquiring kingdoms in Spain, North Africa and the island countries in the Mediterranean. They hadn't been able to make peace with the Romans because of religious differences. While the Vandals were at their height around 455 AD, they had control of Rome's grain supply, in rich North Africa.

About that time, the Roman Emperor broke a peace treaty with King Genseric. The King was furious and brought his armies to attack Rome, but found no armies guarding it. They had fled, and only the Pope could beg for mercy. The Vandals agreed to spare all lives and buildings, only plundering the city.

Owing to accounts given by Roman writers the name "vandal" has now become synonymous with careless destruction.

The Byzantines overcame the Vandal kingdom in 534 AD, thereby ending it completely. The Vandal people were assimilated into the cultures around them, while the last Vandal king was given an estate in Greece to retire in, by the Byzantine Emperor, Justinian.