Belisarius: The Last Roman General (24 page)

Belisarius arrived in Constantinople and was given a hero’s welcome. Justinian granted him a triumph for his exploits in recapturing Africa for the empire. However, the triumph did not follow the traditional practice, as was the norm in earlier centuries. Belisarius walked from his home in the city to the Hippodrome, followed by Gelimer and the other Vandal captives from the war, plus the vast amount of treasure he had secured. Once in the Hippodrome, Belisarius and Gelimer both made obeisance to the emperor as he sat in the imperial box.

As a further honour, Belisarius was made
consul ordinarius
for the year 535, allowing him to celebrate a second, consular, triumph, in which he was carried around the city by the Vandal warriors in a consul’s
curule
chair, distributing spoils from the war amongst the population as he went. Belisarius had definitely made his name as a general. His reconquest of lost imperial provinces and the sheer speed with which he had accomplished this would have left the population of Constantinople in shock; it was less than a year since he had left on an expedition which many had thought would end in disaster. He had now returned victorious.

However, the Emperor had not finished with Belisarius. The situation in Italy had changed in the period between Belisarius’ landing in Sicily en route to Africa and his triumphant return to Constantinople. The relations between the court at Ravenna and Constantinople had fast deteriorated.

*
 
Stacks
is derived from the Greek unit of measurement, the
stadium.
This was a measurement of approximately 600 feet (180 metres). Twenty
stades
is therefore approximately 2 1/3 miles.

Chapter 8

The Invasion of Sicily and Southern Italy

Events Prior to the War

In 526, the year before Justinian became emperor, Theoderic the Great had died. He had ruled Italy since 493 and established a network of alliances and contacts to secure himself in his position as ‘Ruler of Italy’ However, even before his death relations had soured between Theoderic and Justin, Justinian’s predecessor.

Theoderic had been succeeded by his grandson Athalaric, but as Athalaric was a minor, being only eight years old, the actual power lay in the hands of his mother Amalasuintha. Well educated and desirous of good relations with Constantinople, she immediately attempted to reverse the downward trend in relations. Furthermore, she attempted to have her son reared in the classical Roman manner.

Not all of the Goths were happy with this state of affairs, seeing no need to form a close relationship with the emperor in Constantinople and being extremely unhappy that their so-called king was being raised as a Roman. Very quickly an opposition formed, centred upon Athalaric himself. His tutors were dismissed and he quickly fell under the control of men who turned him to drink and an unhealthy lifestyle. Contrary to the laws and customs of Theoderic, many Goths now began to secure property from Romans by force. Theoderic had been a strong king who could enforce his will; Amalasuintha did not have the strength or standing to enforce her will and follow his example.

One man who did well out of the seizure of Roman property was Theodahad. He was the son of Theoderic’s sister Amalafrida, born during her first marriage. After the death of Theodahad’s father, Theoderic had married Amalafrida to the Vandal king, Thrasamund, to cement one of his many alliances. As a cousin of the current king, and being of a legal age to rule, Theodahad may have had a strong claim to the throne when Theoderic died. If any such claims were made, there are no surviving records of them. He had a reputation for greed and for taking property whenever the opportunity presented itself; he was not a popular figure.

Amalasuintha attempted to halt the appropriations of property and have them returned to their Roman owners, which alienated Theodahad. He now devised a scheme whereby he would hand all of his lands to the emperor in Constantinople in return for a large sum of money, the rank of senator, and
permission to pass the remainder of his life in Constantinople. Unfortunately for him, before this could happen he was denounced for his behaviour within Tuscany, called before Amalasuintha and forced to make restitution. Theodahad would never forgive her.

As a result of the growth of opposition to her rule, and with a possible hostile, though unpopular, candidate for the throne in existence, Amalasuintha’s position began to weaken. Furthermore, the Goths were under increasing pressure from the Franks, who at this time were busy conquering Thuringia and dismembering the Burgundian kingdom. The Goths failed to make any territorial gains whilst the Franks were accumulating power

Amalasuintha was not idle. She decided to eliminate three of the leaders of those plotting against her and sent assassins against them. She also made plans in case the assassins should fail. Accordingly, she asked Justinian if he would be willing to grant asylum to her. Upon his assent, she dispatched all of her treasures and belongings to Epidamnus, and waited for the ship to return. If the assassins succeeded, she would remain; if they failed, she would flee into exile. The assassins succeeded and Amalasuintha determined to stay and attempt to remain in power.

Although during the course of these internal upheavals Amalasuintha had agreed to allow the empire’s forces to stop in Sicily on their way to Africa, she may have believed that the attempt would fail and that both the Vandals and the empire would be weakened by the struggle. It was not to be; the speedy collapse of the Vandal kingdom resulted in her being surrounded by powerful neighbours. The Franks were now at the borders to the north, and the empire controlled all other areas surrounding Italy. Gothic power was beginning to look a shadow of its former self and many Goths blamed Amalasuintha for the situation.

Then, in 534, Athalaric died of a wasting disease brought on by his epic bouts of drinking; he was sixteen years old. Amalasuintha could no longer maintain her position by acting as the regent of her son. Consequently, her hold upon power weakened even further. Furthermore, at this sensitive point she received an envoy from Justinian, demanding that Lilybaeum be handed to the empire. In desperation, she sent a letter asking Justinian to think again. She doubtless hoped that the emperor would be lenient and allow the Goths to keep the city, since its loss would further weaken her position at home. However, Justinian realised that he had an opportunity to assume control of more than simply a part of Italy. Accordingly, he sent one of his most trusted envoys to Ravenna.

Peter the Illyrian was a citizen of Thessalonica. Trained as an orator, he had a gentle manner, was extremely discreet, and was outstanding in the arts of persuasion. Justinian believed that Peter was the perfect envoy, and so he was sent to open negotiations with Theodahad regarding his holdings in Tuscany. At the same time, he was commanded to open secret discussions with Amalasuintha,the intention being to negotiate a deal wherein Amalasuintha would, like Theodahad, receive a welcome and estates in the east. In return, given her weakening position in Italy, she would hopefully agree to deliver the whole of Italy to the emperor. The envoys contacted Theodahad concerning his plans to give his lands in Tuscany to the emperor. They found him to be inclined to fulfil the agreement. Therefore they now returned to Constantinople, ready to complete the exchange with the emperor.