Gothic War (535–554)

Gothic War (535–554)

The Gothic War was a big fight between the Byzantine Empire and the Ostrogothic Kingdom in Italy. It lasted from 535 to 554 and took place in places like the Italian peninsula, Dalmatia, Sardinia, Sicily, and Corsica. This war was part of many fights known as the Gothic wars.

Emperor Justinian I wanted to bring back the old Western Roman Empire lands that had been taken by other groups during a time called the Migration Period. The war started after the Byzantines took back the diocese of Africa from the Vandals.

The war had two main parts. The first part began in 535 when a general named Belisarius led the Byzantine army to take Italy. It ended when the Ostrogothic capital, Ravenna, fell in 540. The second part lasted from 540 to 553. In this part, the Gothics, led by a leader named Totila, fought back. They were stopped by another Byzantine general, Narses. In 554, the Byzantines had to stop an attack by the Franks and Alamanni.

By the end of the war, Italy was damaged and had fewer people. Even though the Byzantines won, it was a tough victory. They could not stop the Lombards from invading in 568, and they lost control of much of Italy forever.

Background

Italy under the Goths

Further information: Ostrogothic Kingdom

In 476, Odoacer removed the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire and became the ruler of Italy. He said he ruled for the Byzantine emperor, but the leaders in Constantinople were worried. To help control Italy, the Byzantine emperor invited the Ostrogoths, led by Theodoric the Great, to come to Italy. Theodoric defeated Odoacer, and the Ostrogoths took control of Italy. Theodoric agreed to rule Italy for the Byzantine emperor.

Theodoric tried to keep things peaceful. He let Roman leaders do most of the government's work, while the Gothic army stayed separate. Though the Romans and Goths had different religious beliefs, Theodoric let everyone practice their own faith. This worked well while Theodoric was in charge, but things began to fall apart after he died.

Belisarius

Main article: Vandalic War

In 533, Emperor Justinian sent his best general, Belisarius, to take back North Africa from the Vandals. The war went well for the Byzantines, and Justinian wanted to get more land back. When Theodoric's grandson died, his mother Amalasuntha, who was helping to rule, was arrested and killed by her cousin Theodahad. This gave Justinian a reason to start a war against the Ostrogoths. He chose Belisarius to lead the attack on Italy with a small group of soldiers.

First Byzantine campaign, 535–540

Conquest of Sicily and Dalmatia

Belisarius landed in Sicily and captured it quickly. He then planned to move into Italy. Another Byzantine general named Mundus captured the city of Salona in Dalmatia but was later killed in battle. The Byzantine army took control of most of Dalmatia.

First siege of Rome

Belisarius moved into Italy and captured the city of Naples after a short siege. He then went to Rome, which opened its gates without a fight. The Gothic king, Vitiges, attacked Rome and began a long siege. Belisarius defended the city with help from reinforcements. The Byzantines stopped the Goths' supplies, making them leave.

Siege of Ariminum

Vitiges went to the city of Ariminum, which had a small Byzantine force. Belisarius sent help, and the Goths, facing a larger enemy force, withdrew to Ravenna.

Mediolanum

Belisarius sent a small force to the city of Mediolanum (now Milan), which they captured. The Goths, with help from the Franks, besieged the city. After a long siege, the city fell, and many people were killed.

Frankish invasion

A large Frankish army attacked both the Goths and the Byzantines, but sickness spread among the Franks, forcing them to leave. Belisarius continued to besiege other cities, which eventually surrendered.

Capture of Ravenna

Belisarius moved against the Gothic capital, Ravenna. After a long siege, the Goths surrendered. Belisarius entered the city peacefully, and the Goths were allowed to keep their property. Several Gothic towns surrendered after this, but a few stayed under Gothic control.

Gothic revival, 541–551

Belisarius left Italy, and much of it stayed under Byzantine control. But the cities of Pavia and Verona remained under Gothic rule. The Goths chose a new king named Ildibad, who took back areas like Venetia and Liguria. Ildibad was later killed, and another leader named Eraric took over briefly before also being killed. Finally, a leader named Totila became king.

Totila faced many challenges. A big sickness called the Plague of Justinian weakened the Byzantine Empire, and wars elsewhere forced the empire to send most of its soldiers away from Italy. Totila used these chances to win battles. He captured cities like Florence and Naples by outsmarting his enemies. He treated people kindly, hoping they would join him instead of fighting. Totila even tried to make peace with the Byzantine leader Justinian, but his offers were refused.

When Totila took Rome in 546, he tore down parts of the city walls but did not destroy the whole city. He later left Rome to follow Byzantine soldiers into Apulia. The Byzantine general Belisarius returned to Italy but struggled to get enough supplies and support. He managed to retake Rome for a short time, but Totila came back and took the city again. During one attack, Totila’s soldiers entered Rome through a gate opened by some soldiers who agreed to help him.

Byzantine reconquest, 551–554

The Byzantines gathered a big army of soldiers at a place called Salona. Narses, an important leader, commanded the army. In the spring of 552, he led the army to a city named Ancona and then towards Rome.

Near a village called Taginae, Narses met the army of the Ostrogoths, led by a commander named Totila. In a big battle called the Battle of Taginae, the Ostrogoths were defeated, and Totila was killed. Later, in another battle called the Battle of Mons Lactarius, Narses defeated the last Ostrogothic forces in Italy.

After these battles, other groups like the Franks and Alemanni tried to take over parts of Italy. Narses fought them too. Over time, the Byzantines took back more land, and by the year 562, they had control of important cities.

Aftermath

Further information: Byzantine Papacy

The Gothic War was a long and hard fight. It used up many of the Byzantine Empire's resources and made it harder for the empire to protect itself.

After the war, new problems came up. These included raids by nearby groups and a big sickness called the Plague of Justinian, which hurt many people.

In Italy, the war caused big changes. Many cities were left empty, and the country went through a long time of decline. After the leader Justinian died, much of Italy was taken over by the Lombards. Only small parts near the coast stayed under Byzantine control for a little while longer. Over time, people in Italy felt less connected to the empire and more tied to their local areas and families. This marked the end of a united Italy under one rule, a situation that lasted until Italy was united again many years later.