{"slug": "belisarius", "label": "Belisarius", "wikipedia": "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belisarius", "wikidata": "https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q174943", "qid": "Q174943", "description": "6th century Byzantine general instrumental in reconquest of much of the former Roman Mediterranean territories (505-565)", "entries": 26, "years": 26, "span": [484, 570], "span_label": ["484 CE", "570 CE"], "topics": [{"title": "Conflict & Security", "count": 17}, {"title": "Births", "count": 2}, {"title": "Crime & Justice", "count": 2}, {"title": "Deaths", "count": 2}, {"title": "Exploration & Expansion", "count": 1}, {"title": "Technology & Infrastructure", "count": 1}, {"title": "Religion & Belief", "count": 1}], "related": [{"slug": "justinian-i", "label": "Justinian I", "shared": 9}, {"slug": "constantinople", "label": "Constantinople", "shared": 7}, {"slug": "byzantine-empire", "label": "Byzantine Empire", "shared": 6}, {"slug": "ostrogoths", "label": "Ostrogoths", "shared": 5}, {"slug": "gothic-war-535554", "label": "Gothic War (535–554)", "shared": 4}, {"slug": "rome", "label": "Rome", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "totila", "label": "Totila", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "north-africa", "label": "North Africa", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "armenia", "label": "Armenia", "shared": 2}, {"slug": "apulia", "label": "Apulia", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "southern-italy", "label": "Southern Italy", "shared": 1}, {"slug": "tiber", "label": "Tiber", "shared": 1}], "items": [{"year": 484, "year_label": "484 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Antonina, Byzantine patrikia and wife of Belisarius (approximate date)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364749511#Births", "title": "484", "revid": 1364749511, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 505, "year_label": "505 CE", "section": "Births", "date": null, "text": "Belisarius, Byzantine general (d. 565)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364907851#Births", "title": "505", "revid": 1364907851, "section": "Births"}}, {"year": 527, "year_label": "527 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Justinian I appoints Belisarius to command the Eastern army in Armenia and on the Byzantine-Persian frontier.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340793725#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "527", "revid": 1340793725, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 530, "year_label": "530 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Spring – Battle of Dara: Belisarius and Hermogenes (magister officiorum) defeat a combined Persian-Arab army of 50,000 men at Dara (modern Turkey), by entrenching his infantry in a refused position in the centre line, then carrying out a cavalry envelopment to culminate a classic defensive-offensive battleplan.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364758665#Persia", "title": "530", "revid": 1364758665, "section": "Events › By place › Persia"}}, {"year": 531, "year_label": "531 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "April 19", "text": "April 19 – Battle of Callinicum: A Byzantine army (20,000 men), commanded by Belisarius, is defeated by the Persians at Raqqa (northern Syria). Emperor Justinian I negotiates an end to the hostilities, and Belisarius is hailed as a hero.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351343342#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "531", "revid": 1351343342, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 532, "year_label": "532 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "January 11", "text": "January 11 – Nika riots in Constantinople: Anger among the supporters of the most important chariot teams—the Blues and the Greens—escalates into violence towards the emperor. For the next five days the capital is in chaos. The fires that start during the tumult result in the destruction of much of the city. The insurrection is put down a week later by Belisarius and Mundus; 30,000 people are killed in the Hippodrome.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340793755#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "532", "revid": 1340793755, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 533, "year_label": "533 CE", "section": "Exploration & Expansion", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Emperor Justinian I holds a war council in Constantinople. His advisers warn him against launching an expedition to North Africa, because of the supply-lines (1,000 miles into Vandal waters) and the huge drain on the imperial treasury. Justinian appoints Belisarius to command the Byzantine army.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340793764#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "533", "revid": 1340793764, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 534, "year_label": "534 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March", "text": "March – King Gelimer surrenders to Belisarius, after spending a winter in the mountains of Numidia. He and large numbers of captured Vandals are transported to Constantinople. The Vandal Kingdom ends, and the African provinces return to the Byzantine Empire.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1353013996#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "534", "revid": 1353013996, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 535, "year_label": "535 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gothic War: Emperor Justinian I appoints Belisarius commander-in-chief (stratēgos autokratōr), and sends a Byzantine expeditionary force of only 8,000 soldiers (half are heavy East Roman cavalry) to begin the reconquest of Italy.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1342880383#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "535", "revid": 1342880383, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 536, "year_label": "536 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Summer – Gothic War (535–554): Belisarius crosses the Strait of Messina and invades Italy. He conquers the city of Rhegium and advances to Naples.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1362906459#Eastern_Roman_(\"Byzantine\")_Empire", "title": "536", "revid": 1362906459, "section": "Events › By place › Eastern Roman (\"Byzantine\") Empire"}}, {"year": 537, "year_label": "537 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": "March 2", "text": "March 2 – Siege of Rome: The Ostrogothic army (45,000 men) under King Vitiges begins the siege of the city. Belisarius conducts a delaying action outside the Flaminian Gate; he and a detachment of his bucellarii are almost cut off.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1370992976#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "537", "revid": 1370992976, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 538, "year_label": "538 CE", "section": "Technology & Infrastructure", "date": null, "text": "Belisarius attacks the Goths when they have crossed the Milvian Bridge. After fierce resistance, Vitiges routs in panic, and many are slain or drowned in the river.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1351200776#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "538", "revid": 1351200776, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 539, "year_label": "539 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Belisarius, still besieging Ravenna, negotiates a treaty with Theodebert I (whose forces are suffering from dysentery), and the Franks retreat to Gaul. The Byzantine fleet controls the Adriatic Sea and blockades the port of the capital from supplies.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364754969#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "539", "revid": 1364754969, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 540, "year_label": "540 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Justinian I offers to make peace with Vitiges, but Belisarius refuses to transmit the message. The Ostrogoths then offer to support Belisarius as emperor of the West.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1367291057#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "540", "revid": 1367291057, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 541, "year_label": "541 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Justinian I recalls Belisarius from Italy to handle the situation in Armenia. He arrives in Upper Mesopotamia and attacks the fortress city of Nisbis. After an unsuccessful siege he ravages the countryside.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1299131059#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "541", "revid": 1299131059, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 544, "year_label": "544 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gothic War: Emperor Justinian I sends Belisarius back to the Ostrogothic Kingdom (Italy) with an inadequate Byzantine expeditionary force (4,000 men and 200 ships).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1317382475#The_Mediterranean_World,_Europe,_and_the_Middle_East", "title": "544", "revid": 1317382475, "section": "Events › By place › The Mediterranean World, Europe, and the Middle East"}}, {"year": 546, "year_label": "546 CE", "section": "Religion & Belief", "date": "December 17", "text": "December 17 – Sack of Rome: After almost a year's siege, the capture of a grain fleet sent by the exiled Pope Vigilius near the mouth of the Tiber, and failure of troops of the Byzantine Empire under Belisarius to relieve the city, the Ostrogoths under King Totila plunder Rome and destroy its fortifications. He then withdraws to Apulia (Southern Italy).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364747564#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "546", "revid": 1364747564, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 547, "year_label": "547 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Gothic War: Belisarius recaptures Rome from the Ostrogoths, but his Italian campaign is unsuccessful (he is starved of supplies and reinforcements from Constantinople).", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364909272#Europe", "title": "547", "revid": 1364909272, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 548, "year_label": "548 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Justinian I relieves Belisarius from military service, in favour of 70-year-old Byzantine general Narses.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1368141112#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "548", "revid": 1368141112, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 549, "year_label": "549 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Siege of Rome: The Ostrogoths under Totila besiege Rome for the third time, after Belisarius has returned to Constantinople. He offers a peace agreement, but this is rejected by Emperor Justinian I.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1369557736#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "549", "revid": 1369557736, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 554, "year_label": "554 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Byzantine forces under Liberius seize Granada (Andalusia) and occupy the old province of Baetica. Justinian I calls Belisarius out of retirement, to complete the consolidation of reconquered regions of Southern Spain.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364904137#Europe", "title": "554", "revid": 1364904137, "section": "Events › By place › Europe"}}, {"year": 559, "year_label": "559 CE", "section": "Conflict & Security", "date": null, "text": "Winter – The Kutrigurs and Huns under Zabergan cross the frozen Danube River, and invade the Balkans. They raid Thracia and Macedonia, but are driven back near Constantinople by a Byzantine force under Belisarius.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1350439939#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "559", "revid": 1350439939, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 562, "year_label": "562 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Belisarius stands trial for corruption in Constantinople, possibly with Procopius acting as praefectus urbi. He is found guilty and sent to prison.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364749268#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "562", "revid": 1364749268, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 563, "year_label": "563 CE", "section": "Crime & Justice", "date": null, "text": "Emperor Justinian I pardons Belisarius; he orders his release from prison, and restores his properties and honours. He permits the general to live in obscurity, and gives him a veterans' pension.", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340800810#Byzantine_Empire", "title": "563", "revid": 1340800810, "section": "Events › By place › Byzantine Empire"}}, {"year": 565, "year_label": "565 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Belisarius, Byzantine general (\"Last of the Romans\")", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1364749296#Deaths", "title": "565", "revid": 1364749296, "section": "Deaths"}}, {"year": 570, "year_label": "570 CE", "section": "Deaths", "date": null, "text": "Antonina, wife of Belisarius (approximate date)", "cite": {"url": "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=1340800837#Deaths", "title": "570", "revid": 1340800837, "section": "Deaths"}}]}