Flavius Belisarius Biography

Birth of Flavius Belisarius

Justinian I appoints Belisarius to command the Roman army in the east to deal with incursions from the Sassanid Empire

During the Iberian War, leads the Romans to a stunning victory over the Sassanids in the Battle of Dara

Defeats the Persians at the Battle of Callinicum on the Euphrates, followed by the negotiation of an "Eternal Peace" with the Persians, and Roman payment of heavy tributes for years in exchange for peace with Persia

Defeats the Persians at the Battle of Callinicum on the Euphrates, followed by the negotiation of an "Eternal Peace" with the Persians, and Roman payment of heavy tributes for years in exchange for peace with Persia

Highest-ranking military officer in the Imperial capital of Constantinople when the Nika riots broke out in the city which nearly resulted in the overthrow of Justinian, Belisarius, with the help of the magister militum of the Illyricum.

Mundus, along with Narses and John the Armenian, suppresses the rebellion with a bloodbath in the Hippodrome, the gathering place of the rebels, that is said to have claimed the lives of 30,000 people.

Belisarius is rewarded by Justinian with the command of a land and sea expedition against the Vandal Kingdom, mounted in 533-534

Belisarius sails to Africa and lands near Caput Vada (near Chebba on the coast of Tunisia) he orders his fleet not to lose sight of the army, then marches along the coastal highway toward the Vandal capital of Carthage

Ten miles from Carthage, the forces of Gelimer and Belisarius meet at the Battle of Ad Decimum, Gelimer had chosen his position well and had some success, Gelimer became distraught upon learning of the death of his brother in battle so Belisarius a chance to regroup, win the battle and capture Carthage

Ten miles from Carthage, the forces of Gelimer and Belisarius meet at the Battle of Ad Decimum, Gelimer had chosen his position well and had some success, Gelimer became distraught upon learning of the death of his brother in battle so Belisarius a chance to regroup, win the battle and capture Carthage

Ten miles from Carthage, the forces of Gelimer and Belisarius meet at the Battle of Ad Decimum, Gelimer had chosen his position well and had some success, Gelimer became distraught upon learning of the death of his brother in battle so Belisarius a chance to regroup, win the battle and capture Carthage

Victory at the Battle of Tricamarum results in Gelimers surrender in 534 at Mount Papua, restoring the lost Roman provinces of north Africa to the Empire

Belisarius lands in Sicily and takes the island for use as a base against Italy

Belisarius is made Consul

Captures Naples

Captures Rome

Shortly before the taking of Ravenna, the Ostrogoths offered to make Belisarius the western emperor, Belisarius feigned acceptance and entered Ravenna via its sole point of entry, a causeway through the marshes, accompanied by a comitatus of bucellarii, his personal household regiment and proclaims the capture of Ravenna in the name of the Emperor Justinian. Captures the Ostrogoth capital of Ravenna, where the Goth king Witiges is captured

The Ostrogoths had elected Totila as their new leader and had mounted a vigorous campaign against the Romans, recapturing all of northern Italy and even driving the Romans out of Rome

The Ostrogoths had elected Totila as their new leader and had mounted a vigorous campaign against the Romans, recapturing all of northern Italy and even driving the Romans out of Rome. Belisarius managed to recover Rome briefly but his Italian campaign proved unsuccessful, due in no small part to his limited supplies and reinforcements

Belisarius is recalled to deal with the Persian conquest of Syria, Belisarius wages an inconclusive campaign & negotiates a truce (aided with the payment of a large sum of money, 5,000 pounds of gold), in which the Persians agree not to attack Roman territory for the next five years

Belisarius is recalled to deal with the Persian conquest of Syria, Belisarius wages an inconclusive campaign & negotiates a truce (aided with the payment of a large sum of money, 5,000 pounds of gold), in which the Persians agree not to attack Roman territory for the next five years

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 for the first time and threatened Constantinople, Justinian recalled Belisarius to command the Roman army, in his last campaign, Belisarius defeated the Kutrigurs and drove them back across the river with the greatly outnumbered force under his command

Belisarius stands trial on a charge of corruption, Belisarius is found guilty and imprisoned but Justinian pardons him, orders his release, and restores him to favour at the imperial court

Death of Flavius Belisarius