The Gothic War of 535 to 554 was fought between the Eastern Roman, or Byzantine, Empire under Justinian I and the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy. Justinian aimed to restore Roman rule over the lost western provinces, and his generals Belisarius and later Narses led the campaign. Belisarius quickly captured Sicily, Naples and Rome, but the Goths, under Vitiges and later Totila, recovered much of Italy, and the fighting dragged on for almost two decades. The war devastated the country, depopulated Rome and weakened Italy so much that the Lombards were able to invade a few years after the Byzantine victory.
Before and after
- from 527 CE to 918 CEKingdom of Mercia
- 528 CECorpus Juris Civilis
- January 532 CENika Riots
- from June 533 CE to March 534 CEVandalic War
- from 535 CE to 554 CEGothic War of 535–554
- 536 CEThe volcanic winter of 536
- 537 CEConstruction of Hagia Sophia
- from 538 CE to 710 CEAsuka period
- 540 CEBirth of Gregory I
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 1095 to 1291Crusades
- 27 November 1095Pope Urban II calls the First Crusade
- 1206Temujin is proclaimed Genghis Khan
- 1212Children's Crusade
- from 18 July 1270 to 30 October 1270Eighth Crusade
- from 24 May 1337 to 9 October 1453Hundred Years' War
The era
This moment belongs to the Medieval world (500 CE to 1500 CE), kingdoms, faiths and trade routes. You can also browse everything in the 6th century.