Editing Battle of Ad Decimum (section)

===Battle===
The battle started with two roughly simultaneous engagements between smaller Vandal and Byzantine units.<ref name=":0" />

One of these was between the Byzantine Hun mercenaries and the Vandals of Gibamundus. One of the roughly 600 Huns rode out in front of the rest when encountering the Vandals.<ref name=":0" /> Upon seeing this the Vandals stopped in their tracks allowing the Huns to charge and disperse them.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> They possibly did this because of fear of a trap, being stunned at the bravery of this Hun or being surprised upon seeing Byzantines so far away from the main road.<ref name=":0" /> They were also possibly scared of the Huns due to their reputation as great warriors.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> Thus the 600 Hun mercenaries defeated 2,000 Vandals and killed Gibamundus in combat.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite book|title=The Dark Ages 476–918 A.D.|last=Oman|first=Charles}}</ref>

At roughly the same time Ammatus made an error that would cost him his life.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4">{{Cite book|title=History of the later Roman Empire: from the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian|last=Bury|first=J. B.}}</ref> Ammatus was scouting the battlefield with just a few men when he encountered the much stronger Byzantine vanguard under John, and was killed in the ensuing combat.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3">{{Cite book|title=Rome resurgent : war and empire in the age of Justinian|last=Heather, P. J. (Peter J.)|isbn=978-0-19-936274-5|location=New York|oclc=1007044617|year = 2018}}</ref> The rest of Ammatus' forces moved out of Carthage in small bands of at most thirty men, thinly stretching themselves over the road between Carthage and the battlefield.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> As these small groups in turn encountered the Byzantines they were quickly defeated and fled.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" />

By now a Byzantine contingent under a man called Solomon, sent to contact John, reached the scene where battle had taken place.<ref name=":0" /> They questioned local inhabitants to what took place there.<ref name=":0" /> Soon after Gelimer's main force came into sight, Solomon promptly informed Belisarius of the situation.<ref name=":0" /> Seeing the importance of a nearby hill, an ideal location for a camp, some of Gelimer's and Solomon's troops began to skirmish.<ref name=":0" /> The Byzantines had to attack uphill and against superior numbers quickly leading to defeat.<ref name=":0" /> The retreating Byzantines encountered 800 more Byzantine troops and reformed.<ref name=":0" /> Upon being informed of the current situation however, these 800 retreated to the safety of Belisarius’ main force.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":3" /> Reforming these troops and listening to their reports, Belisarius noticed that many Vandals had already been routed while the rest had halted.<ref name=":0" /> Rightly believing he outnumbered the Vandals, Belisarius moved rapidly on Ad Decimum.<ref name=":0" /> Procopius believed that if Gelimer had pursued the fleeing Byzantines he would have completely overrun Belisarius' unsuspecting contingent, while if he would have moved towards Carthage he would have cut the Byzantine army off from John's advance guard.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> The second option would have put Gelimer in a position to attack the weaker and unsuspecting Byzantine fleet from Carthage,<ref name=":0" /> and either outcome could have been disastrous for the Byzantines.<ref name=":0" /> Seeing only a few dead troops around the body of his brother Ammatas, Gelimer became convinced that the Byzantine troops led by Solomon had been only a small rear guard, and that an overwhelming attack by a much larger force earlier in the battle had forced Ammatas' troops to abandon their fallen commander.<ref name=":0" />  In the clear space around Carthage the Vandals would not have had surprise on their side and the outcome of engagement would be more in doubt,<ref name=":0" /> and as such he did not try to pursue the “overwhelming” Byzantine force.<ref name=":0" /> Instead, Gelimer elected to set up camp at the favorable position he had captured, gather intelligence, and wait for reinforcements from [[Sardinia]] to arrive rather than engage Belisarius (at this point still extremely vulnerable), who moved towards Carthage.<ref name=":0" />

When Belisarius attacked the unprepared Vandals from an unexpected direction, he quickly routed the Vandals who had fled away from Carthage in order to avoid being trapped between Belisarius and a potential other Byzantine force<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /> (one under John indeed being present on that road).<ref name=":0" />

After this battle Carthage was left relatively lightly defended and was captured by the Byzantines.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" />
{{Gallery
|title=Development of the battle
|width=160
|height=170
|align=center
|File:Battle of Ad Decimum - Vandal plan.svg|Initial Vandal plan, with the projected entrapment of the Byzantine army.|File:Battle of Ad Decimum - First phase.svg|First phase, the Byzantine advance parties defeat the Vandal flanking detachments.|File:Battle of Ad Decimum - Second phase.svg|Second phase, Gelimer routs the ''foederati''.|File:Battle of Ad Decimum - Third phase.svg|Third phase, the final clash between Belisarius and Gelimer.}}