History of the Wars, Books III and IV: The Vandalic War

The narrative recounts eastern Roman campaigns against the Vandals and Moors, tracing the Vandals' migration and the Mediterranean geography relevant to the conflict. It describes imperial preparations, the appointment of Basiliscus to command a large fleet, and the political motives and intrigues that shaped strategic choices. After early successes in Sardinia and Tripolis, a crucial moment of hesitation and alleged bribery allowed the Vandals under Gizeric to exploit favorable winds, deploy fireships and empty boats, and rout the Roman fleet. The account highlights acts of valor and treachery, the capture and sinking of ships, the fate of Marcellianus, and Basiliscus's return to the capital seeking refuge, closing the campaign without achieving its aims.