Totila
Totila, known as the king of the Ostrogoths in Italy, ascended to the throne in 541 CE following the capture of his predecessor, Witigis, by the Byzantine forces. During his reign, Totila distinguished himself by successfully capturing Rome in 546 CE, although he was urged by the Byzantine general Belisarius to spare the city's destruction. Despite this, Totila later faced challenges as Belisarius retook Rome before being recalled, allowing Totila to capture the city once more. The conflict escalated when Narses succeeded Belisarius as commander in 551 CE, leading to a decisive battle in 552 CE at Taginae, where Totila was mortally wounded. His reign marked a significant period of struggle against the Byzantine Empire, during which he managed to conquer nearly all of Italy. Although the Ostrogoths ultimately faced defeat, Totila's legacy endured, and he became viewed in later centuries as a heroic and romantic figure. His story reflects the complexities of power and resistance during a tumultuous era in Italian history.
Totila
Related civilizations: Ostrogoths, Franks, Byzantine Empire
Major role/position: Military leader
Life
Totila (TAHT-ihl-uh) was chosen as king of the Ostrogoths in Italy in 541 c.e. after his predecessor, Witigis, was captured by the Byzantine army and sent to Constantinople. Fighting in Italy against an army sent by Justinian I and led by Belisarius, Totila managed to capture Rome in 546 c.e. Belisarius beseeched Totila not to destroy the city, and it was saved. Later, however, when Totila chased the Byzantine army south, Belisarius retook Rome and rebuilt some of its fortifications. After Belisarius was recalled by Justinian I in 549 c.e., Totila recaptured the city.
In 551 c.e., Narses replaced Belisarius as commander in chief and entered Italy via the top of the Adriatic Sea and marched to Ravenna, which was still held by imperial troops. By the summer of 552 c.e., the Goths were engaged by Narses in the Apennines at Taginae near present-day Fabriano, where Totila was mortally wounded. In 555 c.e., Ostrogothic rule ended in Italy.
Influence
Although the Goths were ultimately defeated, Totila was able to challenge the force of the Byzantine Empire and conquer almost all Italy. He came to be regarded in the nineteenth century as a heroic and romantic figure.
Bibliography
Dewing, H. B. Procopius: History of the Wars. Vol. 3. Cambridge, Mass.: Harvard University Press, 1992.
Fauber, Lawrence. Narses: The Hammer of the Goths. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1990.
Wolfram, Herwig. History of the Goths. Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988.