In the 5th century, the city was sacked by the Vandals before falling into decline. Timgad was destroyed at the end of the 5th century by montagnards of the Aurès. In 535 CE, the Byzantine general Solomon found the city empty when he came to occupy it during the Vandalic War. The Byzantine Reconquest revived some activities in the city, defended by a fortress built to the south, in 539, reusing blocks removed from Roman monuments. In the following century, the city was briefly repopulated as a primarily Christian city.