Definition of vandal

The word "vandal" originated from the Germanic tribe known as the Vandals, who invaded the Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. The Vandals originated from present-day Poland and migrated westward, spreading into present-day Germany, Denmark, and Sweden. Around 406 AD, a large group of Vandals, led by King Genseric, sailed from their homeland and conquered the Roman province of Africa (present-day Tunisia, Libya, and western Algeria) in 429 AD. They established a powerful kingdom there, called the Vandalic Kingdom, which lasted until 533 AD when it was conquered by the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I. The Vandals were known for their destructive raids and pillaging of Roman cities and settlements. They destroyed many of the Roman Empire's cultural and architectural achievements and were viewed as a major threat during their occupation of North Africa, inspiring the term "vandal" to describe someone who mindlessly destroys or damages property or culture. The idea of a "vandal" as a cultural destroyer became a pejorative term in Western culture, and it still remains a commonly used term to describe someone who needlessly damages, defaces, or destroys works of culture, art, or property. While today's usage of the word "vandal" is primarily metaphorical, the origins of its meaning remain closely tied to the destructive actions of the Vandalic people in ancient times.