Editing Galla Placidia (section)

===Conflict between Bonifacius and Aetius===
Conflict between Placidia and Bonifacius started in 429. Placidia appointed Bonifacius general of Libya. [[Procopius]] records that Aetius played the two against each other, warning Placidia against Bonifacius and advising her to recall him to Rome; simultaneously writing to Bonifacius, warning him that Placidia was about to summon him for no good reason in order to put him away.<ref name="en.wikisource.org">[[s:History of the Wars/Book III|Procopius, "History of the Wars", Book 3, chapter 3]]</ref>

Bonifacius, trusting the warning from Aetius, refused the summons; and, thinking his position untenable, sought an alliance with the [[Vandals]] in Spain. The Vandals subsequently crossed from Spain into Libya to join him. To friends of Bonifacius in Rome, this apparent act of hostility toward the Empire seemed entirely out of character for Bonifacius. They traveled to Carthage at Placidia's behest to intercede with him, and he showed them the letter from Aetius. The plot now revealed, his friends returned to Rome to apprise Placidia of the true situation. She did not move against Aetius, as he wielded great influence, and as the Empire was already in danger; but she urged Bonifacius to return to Rome "and not to permit the empire of the Romans to lie under the hand of barbarians."<ref name="en.wikisource.org"/>

Bonifacius now regretted his alliance with the Vandals and tried to persuade them to return to Spain. [[Gaiseric]] offered battle instead, and Bonifacius was besieged at [[Hippo Regius]] in [[Numidia]] by the sea ([[Augustine of Hippo]] was its bishop and died in this siege). Unable to take the city, the Vandals eventually raised the siege. The Romans, with reinforcements under Aspar, renewed the struggle but were routed and lost Africa to the Vandals.<ref name="en.wikisource.org"/>

Bonifacius had meanwhile returned to Rome, where Placidia raised him to the rank of patrician and made him "master-general of the Roman armies". Aetius returned from Gaul with an army of "barbarians", and was met by Bonifacius in the bloody [[Battle of Ravenna (432)]]. Bonifacius won the battle, but was mortally wounded and died a few days later. Aetius was compelled to retire to [[Pannonia]].<ref name="en.wikisource.org"/>