Uligisalus

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Uligisalus was a Gothic military commander during Justinian's Gothic War. [1]

Historical accounts cited him as one of the two commanders sent by Witigis to recover Dalmatia for the Goths. The other commander was Asinarius, who stopped to gather a barbarian army upon reaching Savia [2] while Uligisalus continued to engage the enemy at Scardon. [1] [2] He was defeated by Constantinianus at the Battle of Scardon. [1] Uligisalus retreated to the city of Burnum, where he waited for Asinarius. The army, however, failed and this loss marked the end of the Goth's domination over the region while Savia fell to the Lombards and Noricum to the Franks. [3] Dalmatia, on the other hand, became a Byzantine stronghold, serving as a staging ground for its campaigns in Italy. [3]

Uligisalus was later employed as the commander of the 400 men garrison of Tudera. [1]

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Asinarius was an Ostrogothic military commander during the Justinian’s Gothic War. In 536 he and Gripas led an invasion into Dalmatia with the goal of capturing the Salona were they defeated the Byzantine commander Mauricius, who they killed, but were in turn defeated by Mundus, Mauricius’ father, who died in the chase. After the loss of their leader the Byzantines retreated while tribes who had stayed away from Byzantine lands out of fear of Mundus invaded the Balkans. The Ostrogoths, however, had also retreated after the battle. He and Uligisalus were later ordered to mobilise the Suevi allied forces and invade Dalmatia again with a combined Suevi–Gothic force. While Asinarius mobilised, the Suevi Uligisalus moved ahead into the Balkans where he was defeated in the Battle of Scardon. Hearing of Asinarius' approach with the Suevi allies, the Byzantine commander Constantinianus decided to retreat to Salona were he prepared the defences. Arriving at Salona the Gothic army and fleet under Asinarius and Uligisalus surrounded the city and laid siege to it. A sally by the Byzantine navy defeated the Gothic navy and kept the sea route into the city open.

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Gripas was an Ostrogothic military commander. During the Gothic War of Justinian I he and Asinarius led an invasion into Dalmatia trying to capturing Salona. They defeated their Byzantine opponent Mauricius and killed him but were defeated by his father Mundus. Mundus died however and his army retreated but so did the Goths. As the Byzantine army was reforming under Constantinianus Gripas led a Gothic force to Salona, successfully capturing it. After hearing of reports emphasising the large size of Byzantine force moving towards him he retreated. After retaking the city Constantinianus had its defences rebuilt. Seeing his position was desperate Gripas returned to Ravenna.

The Siege of Ravenna of 539-540 took place during Justinian’s Gothic War. After clearing out Ariminum, Urviventus, Urbinus and Auximus the road to Ravenna was open to the Byzantines. In late 539 or early 540 Belisarius, victor of engagements like Dara, Ad Decimum and Rome, marched on Ravenna while Vitalius was already in the area. Vitalius discovered a grain shipment destined for Ravenna and captured it. When news of the siege spread many Gothic garrisons began to surrender. The city itself was taken when Belisarius was offered the Ostrogothic throne and faked acceptance.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Hughes, Ian (Historian) (2009). Belisarius : the last Roman general . Yardley, Pa.: Westholme. ISBN   9781594160851. OCLC   294885267.
  2. 1 2 Prokopios (2014). The Wars of Justinian. Translated by Dewing, H.B. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing. p. 291. ISBN   9781624661716.
  3. 1 2 Arnold, Jonathan; Bjornlie, M. Shane; Sessa, Kristina (2016). A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy. Leiden: BRILL. p. 93. ISBN   9789004313767.