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Justinian I, traditionally known as Justinian the Great and also Saint Justinian the Great in the Eastern Orthodox Church, was the Eastern Roman emperor from 527 to 565. During his reign, Justinian sought to revive the empire's greatness and reconquer the lost western-half of the historical Roman Empire. Justinian's rule constitutes a distinct epoch in the history of the Later Roman empire, and his reign is marked by the ambitious but only partly realized renovatio imperii, or "restoration of the Empire".
The 540s decade ran from January 1, 540, to December 31, 549.
Mundo, commonly referred to in the Latinized form Mundus, was a Gepid general of the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Justinian I.
Germanus was an East Roman (Byzantine) general, one of the leading commanders of Emperor Justinian I. Germanus was Emperor Justinian's cousin, and a member of the ruling dynasty. He held commands in Thrace, North Africa, and the East against Persia, and was slated to command the final Byzantine expedition against the Ostrogoths. Having married into the Gothic Amal royal line through his second wife Matasuntha and a distinguished service record, at the time of his sudden death, he was considered the probable heir to Emperor Justinian.
The Gothic War between the Byzantine Empire during the reign of Emperor Justinian I and the Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy took place from 535 until 554 in the Italian peninsula, Dalmatia, Sardinia, Sicily and Corsica. The war had its roots in the ambition of the East Roman Emperor Justinian I to recover the provinces of the former Western Roman Empire, which the Romans had lost to invading barbarian tribes in the previous century.
The Ostrogothic Kingdom, officially the Kingdom of Italy, was established by the Ostrogoths in Italy and neighbouring areas from 493 to 553.
The Battle of Sena Gallica, was a naval battle fought off the Italian Adriatic coast in the autumn of 551 between an East Roman (Byzantine) and an Ostrogoth fleet, during the Gothic War (535–554). It marked the end of the Goths' brief bid to deny the seas to the Romans, and the beginning of the Byzantine resurgence in the war under the leadership of Narses.
Peter the Patrician was a senior East Roman or Byzantine official, diplomat, and historian. A well-educated and successful lawyer, he was repeatedly sent as envoy to Ostrogothic Italy in the prelude to the Gothic War of 535–554. Despite his diplomatic skill, he was not able to avert war, and was imprisoned by the Goths in Ravenna for a few years. Upon his release, he was appointed to the post of magister officiorum, head of the imperial secretariat, which he held for an unparalleled 26 years. In this capacity, he was one of the leading ministers of Emperor Justinian I, playing an important role in the Byzantine emperor's religious policies and the relations with Sassanid Persia; most notably he led the negotiations for the peace agreement of 562 that ended the 20-year-long Lazic War. His historical writings survive only in fragments, but provide unique source material on early Byzantine ceremonies and diplomatic issues between Byzantium and the Sassanids.
Flavius Belisarius was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental in the reconquest of much of the Mediterranean territory belonging to the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century before.
The Byzantine Empire had its first golden age under the Justinian Dynasty, which began in 518 AD with the Accession of Justin I. Under the Justinian Dynasty, particularly the reign of Justinian I, the Empire reached its largest territorial point, reincorporating North Africa, southern Illyria, southern Spain, and Italy into the Empire. The Justinian Dynasty ended in 602 with the deposition of Maurice and the ascension of his successor, Phocas.
Athanasius was a 6th-century Byzantine official who served as envoy and praetorian prefect of Italy and Africa under Emperor Justinian I.
Justin was a 6th-century East Roman (Byzantine) general, who was active in the Gothic War in Italy under Justinian I.
Bessas was an East Roman (Byzantine) general of Gothic origin from Thrace, primarily known for his career in the wars of Justinian I. He distinguished himself against the Sassanid Persians in the Iberian War and under the command of Belisarius in the Gothic War, but after Belisarius' departure from Italy he failed to confront the resurgent Goths and was largely responsible for the loss of Rome in 546. Returning east in disgrace, despite his advanced age he was appointed as commander in the Lazic War. There he redeemed himself with the recapture of Petra, but his subsequent idleness led Justinian to dismiss him and exile him to Abasgia.
Dagisthaeus was a 6th-century Eastern Roman military commander, probably of Gothic origin, in the service of the emperor Justinian I.
The Siege of Auximus, Siege of Auximum or Siege of Osimo was a siege during Justinian’s Gothic War which took place in the year 539. It ended with the Byzantine army under Belisarius victorious. The Gothic garrison surrendered the town and joined the Byzantines after negotiations. The siege lasted 7 months.
Constantinianus was a Byzantine military commander during the reign of Justinian the Great. After the death of Mundus he was sent into Dalmatia to defend Salona. While he was still gathering his troops a Gothic force under Gripas captured Salona. Hearing of the approach of a large Byzantine force Gripas retreated when Constantinianus moved against him. Constantinianus immediately began rebuilding the crumbling fortifications. After this Constantinianus quickly gained control of Dalmatia and Liburnia. Constantinianus’ strong position in the balkans In combination with the Frankish threat caused the Gothic king Witigis to send only a small force to defend Rome from Belisarius but instead position himself as such that he could move to counter threats from all directions. As the city of Rome surrendered to belisarius without a fight, its garrison abandoning it, Witigis’ strategy failed. Later Constantinianus defeated a gothic force under Uligisalus, who was sent to attack him, at the Battle of Scardon. The Goths retreats to the city of Burnus. After Asinarius arrived with Suevic reinforcements Constantinianus noticed he couldn’t defeat the combined army and retreated. He ordered an extra ditch to be dug around Salona and prepared for a siege. The Gothic army under Uligisalus and Asinarius built a ditch and a stockade around the city to blockade it by land while the Gothic fleet moved to close the blockade by sea. In a sally the Gothic fleet was defeated allowing the Romans freedom of movement by sea but the siege continued on land.
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.
The battle of Scardon was a battle during the Gothic War of Justinian I. In it a Roman force under Constantinianus defeated an Ostrogothic force under Uligisalus. After Asinarius approached with a combined Suevi-Gothic army Constantinianus retreated to Salona to which the Goths laid siege.
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 2 3 4 Hughes, Ian (Historian) (2009). Belisarius : the last Roman general . Yardley, Pa.: Westholme. ISBN 9781594160851. OCLC 294885267.
- 1 2 Prokopios (2014). The Wars of Justinian. Translated by Dewing, H.B. Indianapolis/Cambridge: Hackett Publishing. p. 291. ISBN 9781624661716.
- 1 2 Arnold, Jonathan; Bjornlie, M. Shane; Sessa, Kristina (2016). A Companion to Ostrogothic Italy. Leiden: BRILL. p. 93. ISBN 9789004313767.
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