439 CE

Carthage falls to the Vandals. Genseric makes it his capital and establishes the Vandal Kingdom. Isaac the Great, Armenian apostolic patriarch, dies at Ashtishat. He helped to develop a Greek-inspired alphabet, and translate the Bible, along with various Christian writings, into Armenian. Gothic War (436-439): Litorius, Roman general (Magister militum per Gallias), lays siege to Toulouse. During the decisive battle before the walls he suffers a severe defeat and is killed, and only the heavy loss of Visigoths makes King Theodoric I decide to agree to a provisional restoration of the status quo.

In the 430s, the 5th century.

Geopolitics & Diplomacy

  • The Vandals establish a North African granary that enables them to enforce their will on other nations, who are dependent on North Africa for grain and other food staples.source

Conflict & Security

  • October 19 – Carthage falls to the Vandals. Genseric makes it his capital and establishes the Vandal Kingdom.source
  • The Northern Wei empire annexes Northern Liang and unifies Northern China, concluding the Sixteen Kingdoms era.source
  • Vandal War (439-442): King Genseric breaks his treaty with the Western Roman Empire and invades Africa Proconsularis.source
  • Battle of Guoloph: Vitalinus (possibly Vortigern) is defeated at the hands of Ambrosius Aurelianus, and a combined force of Romano-British forces from across southern Britain.source
  • Gothic War (436-439): Litorius, Roman general (Magister militum per Gallias), lays siege to Toulouse. During the decisive battle before the walls he suffers a severe defeat and is killed, and only the heavy loss of Visigoths makes King Theodoric I decide to agree to a provisional restoration of the status quo.source

Exploration & Expansion

  • Winter – Hun and Roman envoys meet at Margum (modern Bosnia and Herzegovina), an important market town on the Sava River. After negotiations, Attila and his brother Bleda, who are present, accept a four-point peace plan. Trading rights between the two states are confirmed and emperor Theodosius II pays an annual tribute of 700 pounds of gold.source

Religion & Belief

  • The Historia Ecclesiastica of Socrates of Constantinople is concluded, perhaps due to the author's death.source
  • The monastery of Mar Saba is founded near Bethlehem (Palestine).source

Culture & Society

  • Licinia Eudoxia, wife of emperor Valentinian III, is granted the title of Augusta following the birth of their daughter Eudocia.source

Births

  • Sabbas the Sanctified, Christian monk and saint (died 532)source
  • Ming Di, emperor of the Liu Song Dynasty (died 472)source
  • Eudocia, Vandal queen and daughter of Valentinian IIIsource

Deaths

  • Isaac, patriarch of Armenia (born 338)source
  • Sima Maoying, empress of the Liu Song Dynasty (born 393)source
  • Isaac the Great, Armenian apostolic patriarch, dies at Ashtishat. He helped to develop a Greek-inspired alphabet, and translate the Bible, along with various Christian writings, into Armenian.source
  • Spearthrower Owl, ruler of Teotihuacan (Mexico)source
  • Litorius, general of the Western Roman Empiresource