Belisarius
Posts: 4041
Joined: 5/26/2001 From: Gothenburg, Sweden Status: offline
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quote:
Originally posted by ruxius:
Thank you Great Justinian's General..
(tell me e'thing you know about his battles
against the Goths )
I know a bit; Born in Illyria in 505 A.D., Belisarius was largely responsible for the expansion of the Byzantine Empire under Justinian I (and also for keeping the Eastern Empire from being overthrown), and is probably one of the greatest generals in history. He fought the Persians in 530, where (amongst others), he defeated a Persian army outnumbering his own by many times. After suppressing the Nika riot and defeating the Vandals in North Africa (he also sacked Carthage), he was given command of an expedition to take Italy back from the Ostrogoths in 535 A.D. He took Rome and Naples in 536, but then had a conflict with the general Narses, who was sent to aid him in 538. Their argument over authority delayed the campaign, but he captured Milan and Ravenna in 540. After that he was sent to battle against the king of Persia, Khosrow I, but the campaign was largely indecisive. He returned to Italy in 544 to take on the Goths, then commanded by Totila, last king of the Ostrogoths. The Goths had conquered Naples in 543 and Rome in 546. He managed to recapture Rome from the Goths in 547. His success made him enemies, though, and because of the jeaolusy of Emperor Justinian I, he was called back in 548. Rome fell back into the hands of the Goths in 550.
After Belisarius' return to Constantinople, Narses was sent to Italy with a good army, and defeated Totila in 552 and became prefect of Italy. He was unpopular though, and was recalled by Justin II.
As for Belisarius, he went back into service in 559 to repel the Bulgarians who were harassing Constantinople, where he was successful. Later he was charged with conspiracy and imprisoned, but the charges were dropped. He died in 565.
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