[3] The Roman army under command by comes Africae Bonifatius tried to stumble here the advance of the Vandals who crossed before the strait of Gibraltar under the leadership of King Geiseric.

He put the regular field army into position supplemented with the expeditionary force of General Sigisvult who had been left behind after the civil war of 427-429.

[5] Geiseric' force consisted of Vandals and Alans, supplemented by a Gothic tribe and warriors of different origins [6] and amounted to 15,000-20,000 fighters.

[2] According to Procopius, Bonifatius led the army of the Romans in the battle against the Vandals, but was defeated and forced to flee to the safety of the walls of Hippo.

According to Ian Hughes,[9] the government of Ravenna must have sent urgent calls for help to Constantinople shortly afterwards, so that East Roman aid arrived in 431.