Heraclius of Edessa

Heraclius of Edessa (died 474) was an Eastern Roman Empire general who took part in the failed campaign against the Vandals in 468.

Heraclius was born in Edessa, Mesopotamia, according to Theophanes the Confessor. John of Antioch and Theophanes both identify him as a son of Florus.

Before 468, Heraclius was probably the Comes rei militaris of the Eastern court. He was sent with troops to support the Lazi against the Sassanids and the Iberians, but his allies failed to adequately supply his troops, forcing him to withdraw.

In 468, he was sent from Constantinople to Egypt, where he gathered troops for a massive campaign against the Vandals in Africa. The overall plan called for a three-pronged attack led by commander in chief Basiliscus, Marcellinus, and Heraclius. Basiliscus, the brother-in-law of Leo I the Thracian, was to land at a distance from Carthage with the main army, transported by an armada of over 1,000 ships, and link up with Heraclius, advancing from Tripolitania. Marcellinus was to secure Sicily and Sardinia.

Accompanied by Marsus, Heraclius landed in Tripolitania and defeated the Vandal forces. He occupied the local cities and continued overland to Carthage. However, the rest of the plan failed. Geiseric, King of the Vandals, called for negotiations with Basiliscus. Basiliscus agreed, unaware that Geiseric was actually preparing a surprise attack. The Vandal monarch sent fire ships against Basiliscus' fleet, destroying most of his ships. The rest retreated. Marcellinus achieved his main goal of securing the two islands for the Western Roman Empire, but was assassinated in Sicily, probably at the instigation of his political rival, Ricimer. Heraclius, left to stand alone against the Vandals, returned to Constantinople.

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