The Suebi defeat at Mérida eliminated their king Heremigarius and halted their expansion, freeing Genseric to lead the Vandals into Africa.
Key Facts
- Year
- 428
- Vandal leader
- Genseric
- Suebi leader
- Heremigarius
- Death of Suebi king
- Drowned fleeing across the Guadiana
- Vandal follow-up
- Crossed into Africa; captured Hippo Regius, August 431
Location
Cause → Event → Consequence
The Vandals, under Genseric, were stationed in southern Spain and preparing to invade Africa. Meanwhile, the Suebi had seized Gallaecia and were pushing into Lusitania. Seeing the Vandals occupied with preparations, the Suebi king Heremigarius chose to launch an offensive against them near Mérida.
At Mérida in 428, the Suebi forces under Heremigarius attacked the Vandals. The assault ended in a decisive Vandal victory. Heremigarius was killed during the retreat, drowning while attempting to cross the Guadiana River, leaving the Suebi without leadership and their expansion into Lusitania broken.
The defeat severely weakened Suebi ambitions in Lusitania and removed their king. With the Suebi threat neutralized, Genseric was free to concentrate on his African campaign. He subsequently crossed into North Africa and captured the strategically important city of Hippo Regius in August 431.
Belligerents & Mobilization Analysis
Side A
1 belligerent
Genseric.
Side B
1 belligerent
Heremigarius.