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Siege of Ravenna (539–540)

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731:, a Gothic commander who had earlier fallen victim to the treachery of the Frank and been defeated in a surprise attack, now marched with an army of 4.000 men to relieve the city. When the Byzantines occupied the Cotian Alps, many of the families of Uraias’ soldiers came in danger of being captured, forcing him to march there instead. Uraias besieged the Byzantine-Gothic army. Another Byzantine army moved into the area, leading to the families of Uraias’ troops being captured anyway and his army disintegrating. Now there was no hope of Ravenna being relieved but the city was impregnable by land and ship, so it had to be starved out or taken by bribery or trickery. 608: 32: 748:, when Witigis found out he voiced his support. Belisarius accepted the deal and made all pledges required of him by it except ones about the western throne, which he said he would make in the presence of Witigis. In May 540 Belisarius entered Ravenna, taking it for the east instead of the west. After he let the surrendered Goths go home, the Byzantines outnumbered the Goths in their former capital. Upon hearing of the fall of the Ravenna the last remaining Gothic forces offered their surrender to Belisarius. 680:
and threaten Ravenna from another direction. At the same time Vitalius was advancing from Dalmatia, arriving in a position to patrol the north bank of the Po. For unknown reasons the river had fallen to such a low level that ships, meant to supply Ravenna, were unable to proceed and were subsequently
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A message from Justinian arrived, a light peace-deal, offering Witigis kingship over the territory north of the Po as the emperor's vassal. As commander in the field Belisarius had to ratify it for it to go into effect but he refused to do so. The Gothic nobility was afraid of a peace-deal with the
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kings and the betrayal the Franks had committed earlier in the war, when they attacked the Goths with whom they were until then allied, an alliance made in secret despite an already existing one with the Byzantines. Witigis decided to take his chances with the Byzantines instead of with the Franks.
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captured by Vitalius’ forces. When the water rose again Vitalius sent the grain to Belisarius, who distributed it among Byzantine troops. Byzantine dominance on sea prevented the Goths from shipping any other grain to the city. Seeing how desperate the Gothic position was becoming
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While Witigis was still deliberating, Belisarius sent Vitalius to Venetia in order to capture as many settlements as possible. At around the same time the grain stores in Ravenna caught fire. This was possibly caused by Byzantine agents or arranged by
727:, who had been forced to marry Witigis. Another possible cause of the fire was lightning. Hearing of the siege the Gothic garrisons in the Cotian Alps decided to surrender. Belisarius accepted the surrender and sent troops to occupy the region. 586:
destined for Ravenna and captured it. When news of the siege spread many Gothic garrisons began to surrender. The city itself was taken when Belisarius was offered the Ostrogothic throne and faked acceptance.
579: 673: 394: 409: 697:, in return for a peaceful division of Italy. Hearing of the Frankish proposal, Belisarius sent an envoy of his own. The Byzantine envoy pointed out the oppression of the 101: 308: 619:, the Byzantines quickly captured a vast amount of land. Among the captured cities was Rome which the Goths attempted to retake in a siege. During the 424: 644: 399: 1032: 1036: 1316: 964: 94: 1326: 1321: 87: 204: 441: 1199: 1103: 199: 631:. This threatened the Gothic capital Ravenna so the Goths lifted the siege and moved against John. After successfully 1331: 940: 886: 67: 214: 1008: 404: 20: 655:
and John, the Byzantines were ready to march on Ravenna. Meanwhile, Byzantine forces were campaigning too in
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Byzantines as they would most likely be deported to the east of the empire, forced to fight the
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History of the later Roman Empire from the death of Theodosius I. to the death of Justinian
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In late 539 or early 540 Belisarius advanced to Ravenna. A large force, commanded by
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The Byzantine Empire: From the foundation the Fall of Constantinople (328-1453)
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the road to Ravenna was open to the Byzantines. In late 539 or early 540
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During the early part of the Gothic War, the Byzantine conquest of
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Justinian the Great: The Life and Legacy of the Byzantine Emperor
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Rome resurgent : war and empire in the age of Justinian
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ITALY AND HER INVADERS. VOLUME IV. THE IMPERIAL RESTORATION
1144:"Belisarius | Biography, Military Campaigns, & Facts" 930: 1297:. Robarts - University of Toronto. London S. Heinemann. 872: 999:
Bury, J. B. (John Bagnell), 1861-1927 (January 1958).
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Procopius, with an English translation by H.B. Dewing
1098:. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform. 2014. 874: 1291:Procopius; Dewing, H. B. (Henry Bronson) (1914). 1308: 1250: 611:First five years of the war in Ostrogothic Italy 1290: 582:was already in the area. Vitalius discovered a 16:Siege of the Ostrogothic capital by Belisarius 95: 1031:: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list ( 676:, was sent to patrol the south bank of the 1035:) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list ( 963:: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ( 102: 88: 633:holding out against the Goths in Ariminum 68:Learn how and when to remove this message 877:Belisarius : the last Roman general 667: 606: 1235: 744:. They secretly offered Belisarius the 713: 109: 1309: 1286: 1284: 1282: 1231: 1185: 1183: 1181: 1076: 1317:Sieges involving the Byzantine Empire 1280: 1278: 1276: 1274: 1272: 1270: 1268: 1266: 1264: 1262: 1229: 1227: 1225: 1223: 1221: 1219: 1217: 1215: 1213: 1211: 994: 926: 868: 866: 864: 862: 860: 858: 856: 854: 852: 850: 848: 846: 844: 842: 840: 838: 836: 834: 832: 830: 828: 826: 824: 822: 820: 818: 816: 814: 812: 810: 808: 806: 804: 802: 800: 798: 796: 794: 792: 83: 1189: 1165: 1163: 1090: 1088: 1072: 1070: 992: 990: 988: 986: 984: 982: 980: 978: 976: 974: 924: 922: 920: 918: 916: 914: 912: 910: 908: 906: 790: 788: 786: 784: 782: 780: 778: 776: 774: 772: 25: 1178: 1120:"Witigis | Ostrogoth king of Italy" 734: 13: 1327:Military history of Emilia-Romagna 1259: 1208: 931:Heather, P. J. (Peter J.) (2018). 14: 1373: 1160: 1136: 1112: 1085: 1067: 971: 903: 769: 19:For the fifth-century siege, see 1322:Battles involving the Ostrogoths 1169: 873:Hughes, Ian (Historian) (2009). 30: 1244: 1043: 1: 1079:The Generalship of Belisarius 762: 590: 566:, victor of engagements like 465:of 539-540 took place during 751: 7: 1194:. Independently published. 1003:. New York: Acheron Press. 881:. Yardley, Pa.: Westholme. 578:, marched on Ravenna while 415:Onoguris (3rd Archaeopolis) 10: 1378: 755: 623:, the Byzantine commander 600: 594: 21:Siege of Ravenna (490–493) 18: 1077:Brogna, Anthony (2015) . 527: 491: 483: 478: 120: 1236:Hodgkin, Thomas (2013). 662: 1148:Encyclopedia Britannica 1124:Encyclopedia Britannica 1055:Encyclopedia Britannica 746:western imperial throne 725:queen of the Ostrogoths 345:Sasanian war of 540–562 39:This article cites its 1251:Stanhope, Lord Mahon. 1190:Oman, Charles (2018). 612: 1081:. Hauraki Publishing. 668:Starting negotiations 610: 1332:Gothic War (535–554) 714:Final relief attempt 637:capturing Urviventus 627:, successfully took 597:Gothic War (535–554) 486:Gothic War (535–554) 205:Babosis and Zerboule 546:After clearing out 539:Ostrogothic kingdom 689:, offered help to 687:king of the Franks 613: 437:Conquest of Spania 1051:"Ravenna | Italy" 544: 543: 523: 522: 519:Byzantine victory 455: 454: 78: 77: 70: 45:does not provide 1369: 1299: 1298: 1288: 1257: 1256: 1248: 1242: 1241: 1233: 1206: 1205: 1187: 1176: 1175: 1167: 1158: 1157: 1155: 1154: 1140: 1134: 1133: 1131: 1130: 1116: 1110: 1109: 1092: 1083: 1082: 1074: 1065: 1064: 1062: 1061: 1047: 1041: 1040: 1030: 1022: 996: 969: 968: 962: 954: 935:. New York, NY. 928: 901: 900: 880: 870: 735:Gothic surrender 534:Byzantine empire 493: 492: 479:Siege of Ravenna 476: 475: 410:2nd Archaeopolis 405:Telephis–Ollaria 395:1st Archaeopolis 115: 104: 97: 90: 81: 80: 73: 66: 62: 59: 53: 34: 33: 26: 1377: 1376: 1372: 1371: 1370: 1368: 1367: 1366: 1307: 1306: 1303: 1302: 1289: 1260: 1249: 1245: 1234: 1209: 1202: 1188: 1179: 1170:Oman, Charles. 1168: 1161: 1152: 1150: 1142: 1141: 1137: 1128: 1126: 1118: 1117: 1113: 1106: 1094: 1093: 1086: 1075: 1068: 1059: 1057: 1049: 1048: 1044: 1024: 1023: 1011: 997: 972: 956: 955: 943: 929: 904: 889: 871: 770: 765: 760: 754: 737: 716: 670: 665: 605: 599: 593: 511: 456: 451: 442:Anastasian Wall 116: 110: 108: 74: 63: 57: 54: 51: 47:page references 35: 31: 24: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1375: 1365: 1364: 1359: 1354: 1349: 1344: 1342:540s conflicts 1339: 1337:530s conflicts 1334: 1329: 1324: 1319: 1301: 1300: 1258: 1243: 1207: 1201:978-1980842026 1200: 1177: 1159: 1135: 1111: 1105:978-1503190375 1104: 1084: 1066: 1042: 1009: 970: 941: 902: 887: 767: 766: 764: 761: 753: 750: 736: 733: 715: 712: 669: 666: 664: 661: 595:Main article: 592: 589: 584:grain shipment 542: 541: 536: 530: 529: 525: 524: 521: 520: 517: 513: 512: 507: 505: 501: 500: 497: 489: 488: 481: 480: 453: 452: 450: 449: 444: 439: 433: 432: 428: 427: 422: 417: 412: 407: 402: 397: 392: 387: 382: 369: 368: 363: 358: 353: 347: 346: 342: 341: 336: 334:Mons Lactarius 331: 326: 321: 316: 311: 306: 301: 296: 291: 286: 281: 276: 271: 266: 261: 256: 251: 246: 241: 235: 234: 228: 227: 225:Fields of Cato 222: 217: 212: 207: 202: 197: 192: 187: 182: 177: 171: 170: 160: 159: 154: 149: 144: 139: 134: 128: 127: 121: 118: 117: 107: 106: 99: 92: 84: 76: 75: 38: 36: 29: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1374: 1363: 1360: 1358: 1355: 1353: 1350: 1348: 1345: 1343: 1340: 1338: 1335: 1333: 1330: 1328: 1325: 1323: 1320: 1318: 1315: 1314: 1312: 1305: 1296: 1295: 1287: 1285: 1283: 1281: 1279: 1277: 1275: 1273: 1271: 1269: 1267: 1265: 1263: 1254: 1247: 1239: 1232: 1230: 1228: 1226: 1224: 1222: 1220: 1218: 1216: 1214: 1212: 1203: 1197: 1193: 1192:The Dark Ages 1186: 1184: 1182: 1173: 1166: 1164: 1149: 1145: 1139: 1125: 1121: 1115: 1107: 1101: 1097: 1091: 1089: 1080: 1073: 1071: 1056: 1052: 1046: 1038: 1034: 1028: 1020: 1016: 1012: 1006: 1002: 995: 993: 991: 989: 987: 985: 983: 981: 979: 977: 975: 966: 960: 952: 948: 944: 942:9780199362745 938: 934: 927: 925: 923: 921: 919: 917: 915: 913: 911: 909: 907: 898: 894: 890: 888:9781594160851 884: 879: 878: 869: 867: 865: 863: 861: 859: 857: 855: 853: 851: 849: 847: 845: 843: 841: 839: 837: 835: 833: 831: 829: 827: 825: 823: 821: 819: 817: 815: 813: 811: 809: 807: 805: 803: 801: 799: 797: 795: 793: 791: 789: 787: 785: 783: 781: 779: 777: 775: 773: 768: 759: 749: 747: 743: 732: 730: 726: 722: 711: 708: 704: 700: 696: 692: 688: 684: 679: 675: 660: 658: 654: 650: 646: 642: 638: 634: 630: 626: 622: 621:Siege of Rome 618: 609: 604: 598: 588: 585: 581: 577: 573: 569: 565: 561: 557: 553: 549: 540: 537: 535: 532: 531: 526: 518: 515: 514: 510: 506: 503: 502: 498: 495: 494: 490: 487: 482: 477: 474: 472: 468: 464: 463: 448: 445: 443: 440: 438: 435: 434: 430: 429: 426: 423: 421: 418: 416: 413: 411: 408: 406: 403: 401: 398: 396: 393: 391: 388: 386: 383: 381: 378: 377: 376: 375: 374: 367: 364: 362: 359: 357: 354: 352: 349: 348: 344: 343: 340: 337: 335: 332: 330: 327: 325: 322: 320: 317: 315: 312: 310: 307: 305: 302: 300: 297: 295: 292: 290: 287: 285: 282: 280: 277: 275: 272: 270: 267: 265: 262: 260: 257: 255: 252: 250: 247: 245: 242: 240: 237: 236: 233: 230: 229: 226: 223: 221: 218: 216: 213: 211: 208: 206: 203: 201: 198: 196: 193: 191: 188: 186: 183: 181: 178: 176: 173: 172: 169: 165: 162: 161: 158: 155: 153: 150: 148: 145: 143: 140: 138: 135: 133: 130: 129: 126: 123: 122: 119: 114: 105: 100: 98: 93: 91: 86: 85: 82: 72: 69: 61: 58:November 2019 49: 48: 42: 37: 28: 27: 22: 1304: 1293: 1252: 1246: 1237: 1191: 1171: 1151:. 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Index

Siege of Ravenna (490–493)
sources
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v
t
e
Justinian I
Iberian War
Thannuris
Mindouos
Dara
Satala
Callinicum
Martyropolis
Vandalic War
Moorish Wars
Ad Decimum
Tricamarum
Mammes
Bourgaon
Carthage
Membresa
Babosis and Zerboule
Cillium
Sufetula
Marta
Fields of Cato
Gothic War
Panormus

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