Vandal King Genseric captured and sacked the city of Rome in 455 CE without having to fight a single major battle by simply negotiating a relatively polite pillaging schedule with the Pope.

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Vandal King Genseric captured and sacked the city of Rome in 455 CE without having to fight a single major battle by simply negotiating a relatively polite pillaging schedule with the Pope. Pope Leo I rode out to meet the invading barbarian warlord and begged him not to massacre the citizens or burn the city down, offering all the wealth of Rome in exchange for a bloodless looting session. Genseric agreed to the terms, and his army spent fourteen days methodically stripping the city of its gold, silver, and valuables before leaving peacefully with their massive haul of treasure. The Vandals literally gave their name to the concept of senseless destruction, yet they pulled off the most organized and civilized heist of the ancient world. They basically executed a hostile corporate takeover of the Roman Empire and issued a polite receipt for all the stolen goods!