Battle of Ad Decimum marks start of Byzantine reconquest

On September 13, 533, the Battle of Ad Decimum took place near Carthage, marking a pivotal moment in the Byzantine reconquest of the West. The Byzantine general Belisarius engaged the Vandal army led by King Gelimer.

Belisarius landed in Africa with approximately 15,000 men, consisting of 10,000 infantry and 5,000 cavalry, including Roman troops and barbarian mercenaries. In contrast, Gelimer mobilized roughly 11,000 hastily recruited warriors to defend the region. The Byzantine victory at Ad Decimum signaled the beginning of the end for the Vandal Kingdom and significantly influenced the political, religious, and cultural evolution of North Africa and Southeast Europe.