Directory

439 CE

Carthage falls to the Vandals. Genseric makes it his capital and establishes the Vandal Kingdom. The Vandals establish a North African granary that enables them to enforce their will on other nations, who are dependent on North Africa for grain and other food staples. Isaac the Great, Armenian apostolic patriarch, dies at Ashtishat. He helped to develop a Greek-inspired alphabet, and translate the Bible, along with various Christian writings, into Armenian.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Vandals establish a North African granary that enables them to enforce their will on other nations, who are dependent on North Africa for grain and other food staples.source

Conflict & Security

  • October 19 – Carthage falls to the Vandals. Genseric makes it his capital and establishes the Vandal Kingdom.source
  • The Northern Wei empire annexes Northern Liang and unifies Northern China, concluding the Sixteen Kingdoms era.source
  • Vandal War (439-442): King Genseric breaks his treaty with the Western Roman Empire and invades Africa Proconsularis.source
  • Battle of Guoloph: Vitalinus (possibly Vortigern) is defeated at the hands of Ambrosius Aurelianus, and a combined force of Romano-British forces from across southern Britain.source
  • Gothic War (436-439): Litorius, Roman general (Magister militum per Gallias), lays siege to Toulouse. During the decisive battle before the walls he suffers a severe defeat and is killed, and only the heavy loss of Visigoths makes King Theodoric I decide to agree to a provisional restoration of the status quo.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Winter – Hun and Roman envoys meet at Margum (modern Bosnia and Herzegovina), an important market town on the Sava River. After negotiations, Attila and his brother Bleda, who are present, accept a four-point peace plan. Trading rights between the two states are confirmed and emperor Theodosius II pays an annual tribute of 700 pounds of gold.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Historia Ecclesiastica of Socrates of Constantinople is concluded, perhaps due to the author's death.source
  • The monastery of Mar Saba is founded near Bethlehem (Palestine).source

Culture & Society

  • Licinia Eudoxia, wife of emperor Valentinian III, is granted the title of Augusta following the birth of their daughter Eudocia.source

Births

  • Sabbas the Sanctified, Christian monk and saint (d. 532)source
  • Ming Di, emperor of the Liu Song Dynasty (d. 472)source
  • Eudocia, Vandal queen and daughter of Valentinian IIIsource

Deaths

  • Isaac, patriarch of Armenia (b. 338)source
  • Sima Maoying, empress of the Liu Song Dynasty (b. 393)source
  • Isaac the Great, Armenian apostolic patriarch, dies at Ashtishat. He helped to develop a Greek-inspired alphabet, and translate the Bible, along with various Christian writings, into Armenian.source
  • Spearthrower Owl, ruler of Teotihuacan (Mexico)source
  • Litorius, general of the Western Roman Empiresource