History of the Byzantine Empire: the Reconquest Part Two

476-641 (Zeno-Heraclius )

The Western Roman Empire had fallen but the Eastern Empire continued to thrive with control over the Balkans, Anatolia, Levant, and Egypt. These areas had always been culturally Greek controlled, and they continued that way with the lingua franca being Greek, even when fully under Rome's control. From the fall of the Western Roman Empire to the Arab invasions in the 7th century saw the last efforts to restore the old Empire and the subsequent destruction of more than half of the Empire, and the replacement of Latin with Greek within the imperial government of the Empire.

This time period witnessed the recovering of a large portion of the Western Empire, exhaustive wars with the Sassanian Persians, and the loss of the Empires southern and Eastern provinces to the Arab invaders.

Justinian and the Reconquest:

• Faced with the Nika Riots, almost uprooting Justinian's reign until Empress Theodora convinced him to stay in Constantinople and the army came and put the riots down.

• Justinian was influential in the architecture of Constantinople with the likes of the Hagia Sophia. Along with this improved upon infrastructure providing many jobs for the city.

• Commissioned the Corpus Juris Civilis, a three-volume law book set that became the foundation of law in the rest of continental Europe.

• The reconquest began with the attack on the Vandals who held the profitable North African provinces (Justinian I).

• Justinian gained a truce with the Persian threat allowing him to spend resources on the reconquest.

North Africa

• Despite this, the failed reconquest of North Africa in the past haunted the Romans making Justinian’s officials leary about the attack (The North African Invasion of Justinian).

• Belisarius led the expedition and swiftly took control of the area by 534, which Justinian quickly filled with Roman administrators.

• Though full control did not occur until 540, as there were small revolts by people throughout the area.

Sicily and Italy

• Belisarius captures Sicily in 535, as a supply and landing point for the conquest of Italy.

• Following a civil war within Ostrogothic Italy, Justinian commanded Belisarius to attack Italy.

• Belisarius captured Naples in 536 (Gothic War: Byzantine Count Belisarius Retakes Rome).

• Swift conquest of Italy occurred as cities opened their gates to Byzantine soldiers until the Ostrogoths regrouped under a new king Vitiges.

• Rome was taken by the Byzantine soldiers and then besieged unsuccessfully by the Vitiges.

• The first part of the war ended with the taking of the Ostrogothic capital Ravena, and Belisarius being recalled back to the East to fight the Persians.

• The Ostrogoths resurged under the king Totila after the loss of Ravena.

• Rome was then besieged by Totila who took it in 546 until Belisarius came back and took it in 547, which then Totila took it again in 549.

• Narses the eunuch general finished the reconquest of Italy, killing Totila at the Battle of Taginae recapturing Rome, and then at the Battle of Mons Lactarius Narses defeated the last remaining Ostrogoths (Gothic War (535–554)).

Next: The Persian Roman Wars

Works Cited:

“Gothic War (535–554).” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, 10 May 2018, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gothic_War_(535%E2%80%93554)#Ascension_of_Vitiges,_first_siege_of_Rome.

Hildinger , Erik. “Gothic War: Byzantine Count Belisarius Retakes Rome.” HistoryNet, Military History, 9 Aug. 2016, www.historynet.com/gothic-war-byzantine-count-belisarius-retakes-rome.htm.

The Vizier. “The North African Invasion of Justinian.” Constantine the Great and His Personal Tragedies | Neo Byzantium, May 2010, neobyzantium.com/the-north-african-invasion-of-justinian/.

Wyeth, Will. “Justinian I.” Ancient History Encyclopedia, Ancient History Encyclopedia, 20 May 2018, www.ancient.eu/Justinian_I/.