Boniface, freshly reconciled with imperial power in Rome, sought to oppose the advance of the Vandals in North Africa.

[3] He then retreated with his federated Gothic troops to Hippo Regius, a fortified city occupying a strategic position.

The city had by then already welcomed several thousand refugees from the surrounding provinces, including one of the main sources on this event, Bishop Possidius of Calama.

[3] While the bulk of the Vandal army imposed a land and sea blockade, detachments plundered the surrounding province.

However, Boniface quickly abandoned the city by sea to meet with reinforcements from the eastern empire; the Vandals were able to occupy the town and subsequently defeated the combined Roman forces in a set battle.