Godigiselus

Godigiselus was a king of the Vandals, a Germanic people. He is primarily known for leading the Vandals and their allies across the Rhine River into Roman Gaul in December 406 AD. This crossing marked a significant event in the decline of the Western Roman Empire, as it signaled a permanent breach of the Roman frontier.

Under Godigiselus's leadership, the Vandals, along with the Alans and Suebi, engaged in widespread destruction and pillaging as they moved through Gaul. They remained in Gaul for several years, eventually crossing the Pyrenees into Hispania (modern Spain and Portugal) around 409 AD. Godigiselus's reign was characterized by this period of migration and conquest, fundamentally altering the political landscape of the Western Roman Empire.

He died in Hispania, likely during a conflict with the Visigoths. His son, Gunderic, succeeded him as king and continued the Vandal migration, eventually leading them to North Africa where they established a powerful kingdom. Godigiselus's actions laid the groundwork for the Vandal Kingdom of Carthage, which would become a major player in the Mediterranean for a century. His legacy is thus tied to the large-scale movements of peoples that characterized the late Roman period.