Historical Map
Language
Theme
G

Gelimer

King of the Vandals

Vandal c. 480 โ€“ 553 AD (Age: 73)

Biography

Gelimer (c. 480โ€“553 AD) was the last King of the Vandal Kingdom of North Africa (r. 530โ€“534). He seized the throne from his cousin Hilderic, who had been pro-Byzantine, giving Emperor Justinian I a pretext to intervene.
In the Vandalic War, Gelimer was defeated by the Byzantine general Belisarius at the Battle of Ad Decimum and again at the Battle of Tricamarum. These defeats marked the rapid collapse of the Vandal Kingdom.
Surrendering in 534, Gelimer was taken to Constantinople and featured in Belisarius's triumph, famously chanting 'Vanity of vanities, all is vanity' as he walked. Justinian spared his life and offered him estate in Galatia, where he lived out his remaining years.