Byzantine Battles: Battle of Tricameron

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15 th century

Battle of Tricameron (Tricamarum or Bulla Regia)	year: 533 15 December 533
Final Byzantine victory and the end of the Vandal kingdom of North Africa	★ ★ ★ ★ ★

enemy: Vandals	location: Around 30 miles west of Carthage, Tunisia	accuracy: ●●●●●
battle type: Pitched battle	war: Vandalic War	modern country: Tunisia

	▼ The Byzantines(emperor: Justinian I)	▼ The Enemies
Commander:	General Belisarius	King Gelimer
Forces:	8,000 men (5000 cavalry)	15,000
Losses:	50	800

Background story:

The first of the western states that Justinian attacked was the Vandal kingdom of North Africa. King Hilderic, who had good relations with Justinian and the North African Christian clergy, had been overthrown by his cousin Gelimer in 530. Imprisoned, the deposed king appealed to Justinian.
In 533, Belisarius with a fleet of 92 dromons escorting 500 transports, landed in Tunisia with an army of about 15,000 men, as well as a number of barbarian troops, mainly Huns. They defeated the Vandals, who were caught completely off-guard, at Ad Decimum on 14 September 533. Carthage was captured by the Romans after that battle but the Vandals remained strong.
After loosing Carthage, Gelimer fled in Numidia where he waited for his brother, Tzazo, who was campaigning in Sardinia. When the two brothers joined forces, they marched to Carthage.

The Battle:

Vandal warriors

Although the Vandal army was superior in numbers, Belisarius chose to fight outside the walls of Carthage. The two forces met at Tricamarum, some 30 miles west of Carthage, and the Roman cavalry immediately charged the Vandal lines, reforming and attacking two more times. During the third charge Tzazon was killed within sight of Gelimer. As had happened at Ad Decimum (where he had lost another brother), Gelimer lost heart. The Vandal lines began to retreat, and soon were in rout. Gelimer fled back into Numidia with what remained of his army, losing over 3,000 men killed or taken prisoner.

Aftermath:

With this victory, the Byzantines regained control of North Africa. This position became a springboard for the Byzantine invasion of Italy. The Vandals virtually disappear from history.