At the battle of Taginae (also known as the battle of Busta Gallorum) in July of 552, the Byzantine Empire under General Narses broke the power of the Ostrogoths in Italy, and brought the entire peninsula under the rule of Constantinople. See also Gothic War (377–382) for the war on the Danube. ... Events July - Battle of Taginae: The Byzantine general Narses defeats and kills Totila, king of the Ostrogoths. ... Gualdo Tadino, (Latin: Tadinum, later Taginae) an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in northeastern Umbria, at 43°14N 12°47E, at 536 meters (1759 ft) above sea-level on the lower flanks of Mt. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... This article deals with the continental Ostrogoths. ... Narses (478-573) was, along with Belisarius, one of the two great generals in the service of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. during the so-called Reconquest that took place during the Justinians reign. ... Totila, born in Treviso, was king of the Ostrogoths, chosen after the death of his uncle Ildibad, having engineered the assassination of Ildibads short-lived successor his cousin Eraric in 541. ... Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ... See also Gothic War (377–382) for the war on the Danube. ... Combatants Eastern Roman Empire Iberia Persian Empire Commanders Belisarius Sittas Gregory Maurice Kavadh I Firouz Azarethes The Iberian War was fought from 526 to 532 between the Eastern Roman Empire and Persian Empire over the country of Iberia // Origin After the Anastasian War, a seven-year truce was agreed on... The Lazic War, or Egrisi Great War as it is known in Georgian historiography, refers to the twenty-year war between Byzantium and Iran Sassanid Empire for controlling the western Georgian Kingdom of Egrisi/ Lazica in 542-562. ... Battle of Ad Decimum Conflict Wars of Justinian I Date September 13, 533 Place Near Carthage Result Roman victory The Battle of Ad Decimum took place on September 13, 533 between the armies of the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer and the eastern Roman Empire, under the command of general... The Battle of Ticameron took place on December 15, 533 between the armies of the Vandals, commanded by King Gelimer, and his brother Tzazon, and the eastern Roman Empire (later referred to as the Byzantine Empire), under the command of General Belisarius. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ostrogoths Commanders Narses Teia The Battle of Mons Lactarius (also known as Battle of the Vesuvius) took place in 553 during the Gothic War waged on behalf of East Roman Emperor Justinian I against the Ostrogoths in Italy. ... The Battle of the Volturnus was fought in 554 between an army of the Eastern Roman Empire and a combined force of Franks and Alemanni. ... Events July - Battle of Taginae: The Byzantine general Narses defeats and kills Totila, king of the Ostrogoths. ... Byzantine Empire (Greek: Βυζαντινή Αυτοκρατορία) is the term conventionally used since the 19th century to describe the Greek-speaking Roman Empire during the Middle Ages, centered at its capital in Constantinople. ... Narses (478-573) was, along with Belisarius, one of the two great generals in the service of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I. during the so-called Reconquest that took place during the Justinians reign. ... This article deals with the continental Ostrogoths. ... Constantinople[1] was the name of the modern-day city of Ä°stanbul, Turkey over the centuries that it served as the second capital of the unified Roman Empire, and after its division into East and West, of the Eastern Roman Empire, also known as the Byzantine Empire (from the city...

In 551, Emperor Justinian I decided to retake Italy from the Ostrogoths, who had themselves retaken it in the 540s. So in the spring of 552, his elderly General Narses recruited an army of 20,000, including East Romans, Lombards, and Heruli, then moved up the Balkan Peninsula and then down into northern Italy along the Via Flaminia, heading for Rome. Events Jordanes publishes The Origin and Deeds of the Goths. ... Justinian I depicted on one of the famous mosaics of the Basilica of San Vitale. ... Centuries: 5th century - 6th century - 7th century Decades: 490s - 500s - 510s - 520s - 530s - 540s - 550s - 560s - 570s - 580s - 590s Years: 540 541 542 543 544 545 546 547 548 549 550 Events and Trends The Eastern Roman Empire conquers Milan and the Ostrogoth capital of Ravenna in 540. ... Events July - Battle of Taginae: The Byzantine general Narses defeats and kills Totila, king of the Ostrogoths. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, from which the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... The Heruli (spelled variously in Latin and Greek) were a nomadic Germanic people, who were subjugated by the Ostrogoths, Huns, and Byzantines in the 3rd to 5th centuries. ... The Balkans is the historic and geographic name used to describe southeastern Europe (see the Definitions and boundaries section below). ... The Via Flaminia was a Roman road leading from Rome to Ariminum (Rimini), and was the most important route to the north. ... City motto: Senatus Populusque Romanus – SPQR (The Senate and the People of Rome) Founded 21 April 753 BC (mythical), early 1st millennium BC (archaeological) Region Latium Area  - City Proper  1285 km² Population  - City (2004)  - Metropolitan  - Density (city proper) 2,553,873 almost 4,300,000 1. ...

At the village of Taginae (modern Gualdo Tadino), Narses ran into the Ostrogoth army commanded by king Totila, which had been advancing to intercept. Totila found that he was outnumbered, negotiated for awhile, then attempted to surprise the Byzantines, succeeding only in occupying a small hill. He then waited for reinforcements of 2,000 additional cavalry. Gualdo Tadino, (Latin: Tadinum, later Taginae) an ancient town of Italy, in the province of Perugia in northeastern Umbria, at 43°14N 12°47E, at 536 meters (1759 ft) above sea-level on the lower flanks of Mt. ... Totila, born in Treviso, was king of the Ostrogoths, chosen after the death of his uncle Ildibad, having engineered the assassination of Ildibads short-lived successor his cousin Eraric in 541. ... Kircholm, a 1925 painting by Wojciech Kossak. ...

Narses' army deployed in an arc, with the Lombard and Heruli infantry in the center, then cavalry behind archers on either side. Totila massed his horsemen in front, with the infantry in a group behind them.

Initially, a Byzantine deserter in the Ostrogoth army came out, and issued a challenge to single combat, but was defeated, upon which Totila came out and did some sort of war dance or equestrian exercise (the sources are vague on this point). Then his reinforcements arrived, everybody had lunch, and only then did Totila charge the center, apparently hoping that the shock would somehow cause Narses' army to collapse.

Of course, Narses was ready for this, and moved his archers in so that the charging cavalry were enfiladed by arrows from both sides, with terrible casualties. Then as the Ostrogoths struggled to maintain their momentum, Narses brought his cavalry around to attack the flanks. Enfilade and defilade are military tactical concepts used to describe a fighting units exposure to enemy fire. ...

By early evening, the Ostrogoths were completely disorganized and when Narses ordered a general advance, they broke and ran. The Ostrogoths suffered a total of 6,000 casualties, Totila among them.

By the end of the year, Rome was again under Roman rule, and the rest of Italy in the following year after the defeat of Totila's successor Teia at battle of Mons Lactarius (near Mount Vesuvius) - the Ostrogoths fade into obscurity. But the Lombards soon turned on the Byzantines and took most of Italy away again (568-570). Teia (d. ... Combatants Byzantine Empire Ostrogoths Commanders Narses Teia The Battle of Mons Lactarius (also known as Battle of the Vesuvius) took place in 553 during the Gothic War waged on behalf of East Roman Emperor Justinian I against the Ostrogoths in Italy. ... Mount Vesuvius (Italian: Monte Vesuvio) is a volcano east of Naples, Italy, located at 40°49′N 14°26′ E. It is the only active volcano on the European mainland, although it is not currently erupting. ... The Lombards (Latin Langobardi, from which the alternative name Longobards found in older English texts), were a Germanic people originally from Northern Europe that entered the late Roman Empire. ... Events April 1 - King Alboin leads the Lombards into Italy; refugees fleeing from them go on to found Venice. ... Events First mention of the Spear of Destiny (approximate date). ...

External links

• Locations of this battle and battle of Mons Lactarius