Belisarius: Dara's Trenches, the Naples Aqueduct and the Ravenna Bluff

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!

Belisarius, born around 500 in what is now Bulgaria, rose in Justinian's guard and built the bucellarii, a personal regiment of up to 7,000 armored horsemen carrying both lance and bow. At Dara in 530 he dug angled trenches to funnel Persian cavalry into killing zones, but at Callinicum in 531 his overconfident troops forced a battle and he fled. In 532 he and Mundus sealed the exits of the Hippodrome during the Nika riots and killed between 30,000 and 60,000 people, binding him to Justinian. In 533 he crossed to Africa with 500 ships, punished looters to keep the locals friendly, and broke the Vandal king Gelimer at Ad Decimum.

Sent to Italy in 535 with about 8,000 men, he took Naples through an abandoned aqueduct and held Rome against Vitiges by sallying out with horse archers. At Ravenna in 540 he pretended to accept the Goths' offer of the Western crown, then took the city for Justinian, who recalled him in distrust. He bluffed Khosrow with 6,000 hand-picked men in hunting gear, persuaded Totila by letter to spare Rome, and in 559 beat 7,000 Kutrigur Bulgars with 300 veterans and shouting civilians. He was pardoned of conspiracy in 562 and died in 565.

At Ad Decimum, Gelimer halted his army to bury his brother, handing Belisarius the moment to strike.
On Theodora's orders, Antonina accused Pope Silverius of treason, and he was exiled and starved.
A divided command with Narses contributed to the loss of Milan, where the Goths killed the male population.
Procopius's Secret History accuses Antonina of an affair with their adopted son Theodosius.
The famous image of Belisarius as a blind beggar at the gates of Rome is a fabrication.

Det här avsnittet är hämtat från ett öppet RSS-flöde och publiceras inte av Podme. Det kan innehålla reklam.

Avsnitt(16184)

The Art of Adult Friendship: Why Quality Matters More Than Quantity

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore how our understanding of friendship changes as we grow old...

9 Nov 18min

Summer Explained: The Science, History, and Traditions of the Warmest Season

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore summer, the season most closely associated with sunshine, ...

7 Nov 18min

Sir Patrick Stewart: From Shakespeare to Star Trek, the Life and Legacy of a Legend

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the extraordinary life of Sir Patrick Stewart, the acclaim...

7 Nov 49min

Larry David: The Genius of Social Awkwardness, Seinfeld, and Curb Your Enthusiasm

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the life and career of Larry David, the comedian, writer, ...

6 Nov 38min

Why Australian Shepherds Aren't From Australia

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the history of the Australian Shepherd, an intelligent, en...

5 Nov 45min

Labrador Retriever: From Newfoundland Fishing Dogs to Modern-Day Heroes

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore the remarkable history of the Labrador Retriever, one of t...

4 Nov 53min

Discovering Ireland: A Journey Through History, Culture, and the Wild Atlantic Way

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!In this episode of pplpod, we explore Ireland through the philosophy of slow travel: go slower, ...

3 Nov 48min

Willie Hutch: An Overnight I'll Be There Lyric and The Mack's Soundtrack

Got something to say to this podcast? Send a voicemail, and you might hear yourself on the next episode!William McKinley Hutchins was born in Los Angeles in December 1944 and raised in Dallas, where h...

2 Nov 21min