Ancient Rome · TURNING POINT · 439

Vandal capture of Carthage (439)

On the Ancient Rome map as “Vandals take Carthage”

19 Oct 439 — Geiseric seizes Carthage, Africa’s capital, without a siege. In a single day the West loses its richest tax base and Rome loses its grain. The West will not recover from the loss.

When: 19 Oct 439
Type: Turning point
Chapter: Fall of the Western Roman Empire (chapter 11 of Ancient Rome)
Atlas: The Rise and Fall of Rome, 264 BC – AD 476

Open this map in the interactive atlas →

Chapter 11 is included with every paid plan. WW2 is free in full, and chapter 1 of every atlas is free. A free account opens 3 more chapters a day. Starter, at $9 a month, opens all 21 with no daily limit — see the plans.

Free printable Ancient Rome study guide, sent by email ↓

Map showing Vandal capture of Carthage (439), turning point in The Rise and Fall of Rome, 264 BC – AD 476 — TURNING POINT · THE RISE AND FALL OF ROME, 264 BC – AD 476

These maps are reconstructed from published sources · Cliopatria v0.2.1 · Natural Earth physical coastlines and rivers

Source details

Cliopatria contributors / Seshat Global History Databank. Selected, combined, and reprojected by Maps of History; dated adjustments are recorded per layer.. CC BY 4.0
Made with Natural Earth. Modern physical geography is a coastline/river reference, not evidence of ancient sovereignty.. Public domain

The source451 Hunnic extent includes the campaign into Gaul. It appears only in the existing sphere/contested overlay, rather than as a new solid claim of sovereignty.

Displayed geometry: 451 (s451); chapter framing: 451. The map shows the moment selected for the chapter, even when the chapter spans several events.

reconstruction: 451 · reconstruction: AD395 East/West source boundary · reconstruction: AD395 western footprint compared with AD451 · reconstruction: Modern physical shoreline reference · vector: 283 to 454 · vector: 347 to 646 · vector: 387 to 475 · vector: 402 to 489 · vector: 402 to 509 · vector: 402 to 533 · vector: 426 to 454 · vector: 441 to 457 · vector: 441 to 461 · vector: 443 to 454 · vector: 451 to 451 · vector: 451 to 454 · vector: 451 to 489

Layer records and reconstruction methods