Editing Majorian (section)

===Defence of Italy===
In summer 457, a group of [[Vandals]], led by the brother-in-law of [[Genseric]], landed in [[Campania (Roman province)|Campania]], at the mouth of the [[Liri]] river, and started devastating and sacking the region. Majorian personally led the [[Late Roman army|Roman army]] to a [[Battle of Garigliano (457)|victory]] over the invaders near [[Sinuessa]] and followed the defeated Vandals, loaded with their booty, as far as their own ships, killing many of them including their commander.<ref>Sidonius Apollinaris, ''Carmina'', V.385–440 and A. Loyen, ''Recherches historiques sur les panégiriques de Sidonine Apollinaire'', Paris 1942, pp. 76–77 and note 5. Cited in Savino, Eliodoro, ''Campania tardoantica (284–604 d.C.)'', Edipuglia, 2005, {{ISBN|88-7228-257-8}}, p. 84.</ref>

After this event, Majorian understood that he had to take the initiative if he wanted to defend the heart of his Empire, the only territory he actually controlled. So he decided to strengthen its defences. First, he issued a law, the ''Novella Maioriani'' 8 known as ''De reddito iure armorum'' ("On the Return of the Right to Bear Arms"), concerning the personal right to bear arms; in 440, [[Valentinian III]] had already promulgated a law with the same name, ''Novella Valentiniani'' 9, after another attack of the Vandals. It is probably to this time that another law is to be dated, the ''Novella Maioriani'' 12 known as ''De aurigis et seditiosis'' ("Concerning Charioteers and Seditious Persons"), to quell the disorders that sprang up during the [[chariot races]]. Both these laws are now lost.<ref name="mathisen" />

He then strengthened the army, recruiting a large number of barbarian mercenaries, including [[Gepids]], [[Ostrogoths]], [[Rugii]], [[Burgundians]], [[Huns]], [[Bastarnae]], [[Suebi]], [[Scythians]] and [[Alans]].<ref>Gibbon.</ref> Finally, he rebuilt two fleets, probably those of Miseno and Ravenna, since the Vandals had a strong navy:<ref>Sidonius Apollinaris, ''Carmina'', V.441–442.</ref>
{{blockquote|text=Meanwhile you built on the two shores fleets for the upper and lower sea. Down into the water falls every forest of the Apennines|sign=Sidonius Apollinaris|source=''Carmina'', V.441–442. Anderson tr.}}