Editing Vandals (section)

====Sack of Rome====
{{Main|Sack of Rome (455)}}
[[File:Genseric sacking rome 456.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|''The Sack of Rome'', [[Karl Briullov]], 1833–1836]]
During the next thirty-five years, with a large fleet, Genseric looted the coasts of the Eastern and Western Empires. Vandal activity in the [[Mediterranean Sea|Mediterranean]] was so substantial that the sea's name in [[Old English]] was ''Wendelsæ'' (i. e. Sea of the Vandals).<ref>{{cite dictionary|url=http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=Mediterranean&allowed_in_frame=0|title=Mediterranean|dictionary=[[Online Etymology Dictionary]]|access-date=12 April 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413143410/http://etymonline.com/index.php?term=Mediterranean&allowed_in_frame=0|archive-date=2014-04-13|url-status=dead}}</ref> After [[Attila the Hun]]'s death, however, the Romans could afford to turn their attention back to the Vandals, who were in control of some of the richest lands of their former empire.

In an effort to bring the Vandals into the fold of the Empire, [[Valentinian III]] offered his daughter's hand in marriage to Genseric's son. Before this treaty could be carried out, however, politics again played a crucial part in the blunders of Rome. [[Petronius Maximus]] killed Valentinian III and claimed the Western throne. Petronius then forced Valentinian III's widow, empress [[Licinia Eudoxia]], to marry him.<ref>Ralph W. Mathisen, Petronius Maximus (17 March  – 22 May 455)</ref> Diplomacy between the two factions broke down, and in 455 with a letter from Licinia Eudoxia, begging Genseric's son to rescue her, the Vandals took Rome, along with the Empress and her daughters [[Eudocia (daughter of Valentinian III)|Eudocia]] and [[Placidia]].

The chronicler [[Prosper of Aquitaine]]<ref>[[Prosper of Aquitaine|Prosper's]] account of the event was followed by his continuator in the 6th century, [[Victor of Tunnuna]], a great admirer of Leo quite willing to adjust a date or bend a point (Steven Muhlberger, "Prosper's ''[[Epitoma Chronicon]]'': was there an edition of 443?" ''Classical Philology'' '''81'''.3 (July 1986), pp.&nbsp;240–244).</ref> offers the only fifth-century report that, on 2 June 455, Pope [[Pope Leo I|Leo the Great]] received Genseric and implored him to abstain from murder and destruction by fire, and to be satisfied with pillage. Whether the pope's influence saved Rome is, however, questioned. The Vandals departed with countless valuables.<!-- this possibility is not attested anywhere: including the spoils of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]] booty brought to Rome by [[Titus]]. --> Eudoxia and her daughter Eudocia were taken to North Africa.<ref name= Camerson/>