Who was Belisarius and what did he do?
Flavius Belisarius (Greek: Φλάβιος Βελισάριος; c. 500 – 565) was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under the emperor Justinian I. 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 prior.
Was Belisarius a great general?
That said, there is little doubt that Belisarius was a supremely gifted general. He may not have won all his battles — during his early career along the Persian front he frequently proved unsuccessful — but his conquests in northern Africa and Italy were nothing short of remarkable.
When did Belisarius reclaim Rome?
December 9, 536 AD
On December 9, 536 AD, Byzantine Count Belisarius entered Rome through the Asinarian Gate at the head of 5,000 troops. At the same time, 4,000 Ostrogoths left the city through the Flaminian Gate and headed north to Ravenna, the capital of their Italian kingdom.
Who did Justinian defeat?
Belisarius
Justinian next chose Belisarius to begin the reconquest of the western Roman territories occupied by Germanic peoples. In 533 he was sent with a small force to attack the Vandals in North Africa. In two stunning victories he shattered the Vandal kingdom within a few months.
What was the result of the Nika revolt?
The Nika Revolt is Crushed With most of the rioters confined to the Hippodrome, the results were far different than the general’s first attempt: Scholars estimate that between 30,000 and 35,000 people were slaughtered. Many of the ringleaders were captured and executed, including the unfortunate Hypatius.
What happened that weakened the Byzantine army?
The dwindling Byzantine Empire came to an end when the Ottomans breached Constantinople’s ancient land wall after besieging the city for 55 days. Mehmed surrounded Constantinople from land and sea while employing cannon to maintain a constant barrage of the city’s formidable walls.
Was Justinian a good emperor?
He was a hard working emperor who was known for surrounding himself with talented people. The Byzantium Empire was also known as the Eastern Roman Empire. It was Justinian’s dream to restore the Roman Empire to its former glory. He sent out his armies commanded by his two powerful generals, Belizarius and Narses.
Who controlled Italy before Justinian conquering it?
Only three years after the death of Justinian in 565, the mainland Italian territories fell into the hands of the Germanic Lombards.
How were the Nika riots ended?
Constantinople, the capital, when the Nika Insurrection broke out there in January 532, and he further gained the emperor’s confidence by commanding the troops that ended the episode by massacring the rioters.
Who is Flavius Belisarius?
Flavius Belisarius ( Greek: Φλάβιος Βελισάριος; c. 500 – 565) was a military commander of the Byzantine Empire under the emperor Justinian I. 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 prior.
What did Belisarius do for the Romans?
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 prior. One of the defining features of Belisarius’ career was his success despite varying levels of available resources.
Who is Belisarius in the time machine?
Belisarius appears first as the Roman opponent of the time traveler Martin Padway who tries to spread modern science and inventions in Gothic Italy. Eventually, Belisarius becomes a general in Padway’s army and secures Italy for him. The Belisarius series: six books by Eric Flint and David Drake (1998–2006).
What happened to Pope Belisarius?
The Patriarch Eutychius, who presided over this council in place of Pope Vigilius, was the son of one of Belisarius’ generals. The retirement of Belisarius came to an end in 559, when an army of Kutrigur Bulgars under Khan Zabergan crossed the Danube River to invade Roman territory and approached Constantinople.