Belisarius

Belisarius , c.505-565, Byzantine general under Justinian I . After helping to suppress (532) the dangerous Nika riot (see Blues and Greens ), he defeated (533-34) the Vandals of Africa, and captured their king. In 535 he was given command of the expedition to recover Italy from the Ostrogoths. He took Naples and Rome (536) and, after some delays occasioned by a conflict of authority with Narses , captured Milan and Ravenna (540). He fought an indecisive campaign (541-42) against Khosrow I of Persia, and in 544 was sent back to Italy against the Goths led by Totila . Handicapped by Justinian's jealousy and distrust, he could do little more than hold his enemies in check; he was recalled in 548 and replaced by Narses. In 559 he emerged from retirement to drive the Bulgarians from Constantinople. He was accused (562) of a conspiracy and temporarily imprisoned but was shortly restored to favor. He was largely responsible for the great expansion of the Eastern Empire under Justinian.

Belisarius outstanding general of the 6th century Roman emperor Justinian, his greatest victories being the recovery of Africa from the Vandals in 533, and Italy from the Ostrogoths in 540. Towards the end of his life he fell from favour and was accused of a conspiracy against Justinian; there was a tradition that his eyes were put out and that he ended his life as a beggar on the streets of Constantinople.