Rome Strikes Back: Belisarius and the Wars of Justinian

Belisarius was one of the 4 main generals of the Empire, stationed in the East. As the Sassadins invade Armenia he wins a major victory against them at Dara, but then looses at Callinicum in 531. He looses his command and returns to Constantinople, as the emperor is forced to a disgraceful peace in the East.

But while in the capital, there is a big riot between 2 factions of chariot races and the crowd asks for Justinian’s head. It is Belisarius who marches the troops against the citizens, killing 1/3 of the city but securing the emperor’s trust. 

After securing the city and the eastern borders Justinian needed a military victory. Belisarius is thus tasked with taking on the Vandals after their previous king is deposed. Belisarius brings North Africa back into the fold in about 6 months.

He then continues in Italy, taking back Rome, Milan and Ravenna (the new capital) from the Ostrogoths. It was a major win for the Romans and Belisarius is the first general to get awarded a triumph in Constantinople. 

The conquests will not last beyond Justinian. Historians will see them as distractions for an empire with bigger problems to attend to.

Long were the days of Caesar’s legions, when infantry was all that mattered and mobile units were mostly mercenaries. 

• Rome’s infantry had more of a defensive role now, as the cavalry was the main unit of the army.
• Most riders were armoured and used a lance like knights would 800 years later.
• The light cavalry were mounted archers, a skill they learned from the huns.
• The Bucellarii are the elite horseman, and were under the direct command of a Roman general like Belisarius.

Belisarius did most of the conquest with less than 15k soldiers (generals during early empire had 50-150k soldiers under command). How:

• he relied on veterans, experienced soldiers 
• he forbid any city sackings and protected the civil population, winning him supplies and information

Belisarius is the image of classical roman: loyal, stoic, though, disciplined while gracious.

The emperor and his general were not as close as history makes it seem. As the emperor feared his popular general might take his place & didn’t always support him with supplies, money or reinforcements. After an assassination attempt, Belisarius gets accused of being involved and is stripped of all titles, before being forgiven 1 yr later. 

Later, Christians portrayed Belisarius as a beggar because of an ungrateful and pitiful emperor.