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Totil a

byJoshuaJ.Mark
publishedon22November2014

Totila(birthname,Baduila-Baduareigned541-552CE)wasthelastgreatkingoftheOstrogothsin
Italy.HewasthenephewoftheGothickingIldibadwhowassucceededbyErarictheRugian.The
GothsofItalyfeltthatEraricwasapoorkingwhopursuedhisowninterestsattheirexpense,and
thisistheacceptedviewofhistoryasexemplifiedbythehistorianThomasHodgkin'sobservation
that"Eraricreignedonlyfivemonths,duringwhichtimeheperformednotasinglenoteworthy
action"(4).HewasdeposedandassassinatedbyconspiratorswhowishedtoseeTotilatakethe
throne.Onceinpower,Totilaprovedhimselfanablestatesmanandbrilliantmilitarycommander.
HeledtheGothsagainsttheforcesoftheEasternRomanEmpireinanumberofsuccessful
engagementsbeforehisdefeatanddeathattheBattleofTaginaein552CE.Heisoftenreferredto
asthelastofthegreatGothickingsandisfrequentlycomparedtoTheodorictheGreat.

RISETOPOWER
AfterthedeathofTheodoricin526CE,thelandwasruledbyasuccessionofincompetentkings,
fromtheusurperTheodahadtotheineffectiveWitigisandontotheself-centeredEraric.The
EasternRomanEmpire,whichhadsupportedTheodoric'sreign,alsoprofitedbyitthroughtaxes.
ThesetaxesincreasedafterTheodoric'sdeathandwereoverseenandmanagedbyaspecialclassof
officialsknownasLogothetes.Hodgkinwrites,"Bothjusticeandexpediencyweredisregardedby
thefreshlyappointedLogothetes,andespeciallybythechiefofthenewdepartment"(2).Thischief
wasknownas"Alexanderthescissors"becausehewassogreedythatitwasthoughthecould
skillfullyclipagoldcoinforhisownprofitandreturnittothetreasury"stillinperfectroundness"
withoutbeingdetected.Hewaschieflyresponsibleforenforcingthetaxlawsandoverseeing
veteran'spensions.Inhiscapacityascomptrollerofthemilitary,hewaswellknownforkeeping
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veteransonthepensionpayroll,evenaftertheyhaddied;hewasthusabletotaketheirpensions
forhimself.Hisabuseswerefarfromsecret,butnothingwasdonetoaddressthem,sincetheother
Logothetesprosperedfromthemaswell.

TOTILAWAS"AVALIANTSOLDIERANDANABLE
STATESMAN"WHOREDRESSEDTHEWRONGSOFHIS
PEOPLE&DEFENDEDITALYAGAINSTTHEINCURSIONSOF
THEEASTERNROMANEMPIRE.
Alongwiththeoppressivetaxburden,thepeoplefelttheywerebeingpersecutedbytheirown
governmentthroughlowpayforserviceinthemilitary,lackofpromotionunlessbyspecialfavoror
nepotism,andthewithholdingofduepensions.AlexanderfurtheralienatedtheRomansofItalyby
forcinganyonewhohadoncedealtwithTheodoricinanyfinancialcapacitywhatsoevertoproduce
receiptsandaccountforallmonetarytransactionstheyhadengagedinduringTheodoric'sreign.
EverythingAlexanderdidseemedtoenrichonlyAlexanderandthosearoundhimattheexpenseof
thepeople,whilethekingdidnothingtostophim.Hodgkinwrites,"Byallthesecausesthe
smolderingembersoftheGothicresistanceweresoonfannedintoaflame"(3-4).TheGothshadno
leader,however,untilelectionlighteduponTotila.HistorianHerwigWolframcommentsonTotila's
nameciting"evidencefromcoininscriptionsandsomeliterarysources"andobservesthat"wedo
notknowwhat'Totila'signifies[but]hisoriginalname[Baduila-Badua]means'thefighter'or'the
warrior'"(353).Whyhechangedhisname(orwhyitwaschanged)isunknown.Hodgkincomments
onthiswriting:
TheunanimoustestimonyofthecoinsofthenewKingprovesthatBaduila
wasthatformofhisnamebywhichhehimselfchosetobeknown.Fromsome
cause,however,whichhasnotbeenexplained,hewasalsoknowneventothe
GothsasTotila,andthisnameistheonlyonewhichseemstohavereached
theearsoftheGreekhistorians(5).

AfterEraricwasassassinated,Totilawas"raisedontheshieldasKing"andruledforthenexteleven
years.Byallaccounts,eventhoseofhisenemies,hewas"avaliantsoldierandanablestatesman"
whoredressedthewrongsofhispeopleanddefendedItalyagainsttheincursionsoftheEastern
RomanEmpire.AfterTheodoric'sdeathandthemesshissuccessorsmadeofruleinItaly,the
EmperorJustinianwantedtheregionbackdirectlyunderhiscontrol.HisgeneralBelisariushad
accomplishedthisforhim,butJustinianwasjealousofBelisarius'popularityandrecalledhimto
Constantinople.ThisdecisiongavetheregionbacktotheGothswho,underTotilanow,foughtfor
theirindependencefromtheempire.
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RoutesoftheBarbarianInvaders

TOTILA'SREIGNANDMILITARYENGAGEMENTS
Newsoftheyoungking'srisetopowerreachedConstantinople,andEmperorJustinianorderedhis
generalsinRavennatomarchagainstTotila.Wolframdescribesthebeginningofthewar:
Twelvethousandsoldiers,theentirefieldarmyinItaly,lefttheareaaround
RavennaandmarchednorthagainstVerona...Whilethegeneralswere
alreadydividingthespoilsbeforetheyhadwonthem,thecampaigngroundto
ahaltinamannerfitforacomedyshow.Theimperialarmywithdrewtothe
regionbetweentheriverRenoandFaventiaFaenza,southwestofRavenna.
Totilacalleduphisentirearmyoffivethousandmenandwentinpursuit
(354).

The"comedyshow"aspectofthecampaignWolframreferstowasduetotheelevengeneralswho
ledthearmyandtheirinsatiablegreed.Hodgkinwrites,"Withthesmallestfractionofmilitary
capacitytheimportantcityofVeronawouldnowhavebeenrecoveredfortheEmperor.Butthe
elevengenerals,havingstartedwiththebulkofthearmyattheappointedtime,began,whenthey
werestillfivemilesdistant,todisputeastothedivisionofthespoil"(6).ThisgaveTotila,withhis
muchsmallerforce,timetoarrangehisarmyskillfullyforapincermovement,whichwouldsurround
theimperialforcesandthencloseonthem.Hesent300meninawidearcaroundtheimperialsto
fallupontheirrearandthenlaunchedafrontalassault.Theimperialarmywasalreadysuffering
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tremendouslosseswhenthe300Gothsattackedfromtherear.Theimperials,thinkingthesemen
werethevanguardofanother,larger,army,brokeranksandbegantorunfromthefieldinafullscalerout.Thoseimperialswhowerenotkilledwerecapturedalongwithallthestandardsofthe
army.
Thisgreatvictoryin542CEbroughtscoresofrecruitstoTotila'sbanner,swellinghisrankstoover
20,000men,manyofwhomhadformerlyfoughtfortheempire.Withthisforcehemarchedacross
theApenninesandlaysiegetoFlorence.Animperialforcewassenttorelievethecityanddrovethe
GothsintothenearbyvalleyofMugello.Totila,however,knewtheregionwellandpositionedhis
armyatahighpointinthevalleyfromwhich,oncetheimperialarmywasarrayedbelow,hefell
uponthemwithsuchforcethattheirlineswerebrokenalmostimmediatelyandthebattlebecame
anotherrout.ThosewhoweretakenprisonerweretreatedwellandinvitedtojoinTotila'sarmy.
Thosewhoescaped,accordingtoHodgkin,went"gallopingonfordaysthroughItaly,pursuedby
noman,butbearingeverywherethesamedemoralizingtidingsofroutandruin,andrestednottill
theyfoundthemselvesbehindthewallsofsomedistantfortress,wheretheymightatleastforatime
breatheinsafetyfromthefearofTotila"(7-8).TheimperialgeneralsexpectedTotilatonowreturn
tohissiegeofFlorencebut,instead,hemarchedfromMugellointosouthernItalyandtookthecity
ofBeneventum,thenthecityofCumae,andsoonuntilthesouthofItalywascompletelyunderhis
control.

MapoftheGothicWar

THESIEGEOFNAPLESANDROME
TotilathenlaysiegetoNapleswhicheventuallyfellin543CE.Histreatmentofthegarrisonandthe
civilianpopulationwassochivalrousandkindthatevenmoresoldiersflockedtohiscause.The
RomanimperialarmywasdisintegratinginItaly,asmoreandmoredesertedtheimperialstandard
forTotila's.Hodgkinwrites,"TheoppressionsoftheLogotheteshadrevealedtoallmenthatone
greatmotivefortheImperialreconquestofItalywasrevenue;andTotila,byanticipatingthevisitof
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thetax-gatherer,stabbedJustinian'sadministrationinavitalpart"(8).Thecitieshehadconquered
werenolonger,ofcourse,payingtheirtaxestotheemperorbuttoTotila.
Theso-called"barbarianauxiliaries"oftheimperialarmycouldnotbepaidandsodeserteden
massetoTotilaalongwithmanyregularsoldiersoftheimperialforces.Totila'sstringofmilitary
victoriescontinueduntil,byDecemberof545CE,hestoodbeforethewallsofRomeitselfandlay
siegetothecity.Partofhissuccesswasduetohismilitaryskill,parttotheincompetentgeneralsof
theimperialarmy,andalargeparttoTotila'simpressivediplomaticabilities.Wolframwrites,"The
Gothicsuccessesof545,whichwereevensurpassedbythosein546,werepossibleinlargemeasure
becauseTotila'sdiplomacyhadeliminatedtheFrankishthreat...Thefriendlyneutralityofthemost
importantFrankishkingmeantthattheGothicrearwassecure"(355-356).KingTheudebertofthe
FrankswashandsomelyrewardedbyTotilaforhisneutralityintheconflictandrefusedtheimperial
requestthatheallowforcestomakeuseofhislandroutestoattackTotila.
RomefellwhentheIsauriansoldiersguardingthegatessecretlyinvitedTotilatotakethecity.Like
manyintheimperialarmy,theyhadnotbeenpaidinmonthsanddidnotthinkitwisetorisktheir
livesagainstageneralwhohadthusfarwoneverybattleheengagedin.Aswiththeother
conqueredcities,TotilatreatedtheRomanswiththeutmostkindnessandrespectand,havingnow
conqueredthesymbolicseatofRomanpowerinItaly,heopenedcommunicationswith
Constantinopletoofferpeace.Theemperorwasnotinterestedinspeakingwithhim,however,and
wordcamebackthatheshoulddealwithGeneralBelisariuswhohadrecentlyarrivedinthecountry
tocommandtheimperialforces.TotilathensenthisemissariestoBelisariuswiththemessagethat,if
theimperialforceswerenotwithdrawnfromItalyandifhewerenotrecognizedasthelegitimate
kingbytheempire,hewoulddestroyRomeandexecutethesenatorsbeforemarchingontoraze
othercitiesstillloyaltotheempire.
Atthispoint,Belisarius'skillindiplomacyinflictedaseriousdefeatonTotila-thefirsttheGothic
kinghadexperienced-simplybywritinghimaletter.Belisariusmadeitclearthattheempirecould
notpossiblyrecognizeTotilaasthelegitimaterulerofItalybecauseItalyrightfullybelongedtothe
empireandJustinianwasnotinterestedingivingitup.RegardingTotila'sthreattodestroyRome
andmurderthesenators,BelisariusappealedtoTotila'schivalryandhonor.Henotedthekindness
TotilaregularlyshowedtoprisonersandemphasizedthelonghistoryofthecityofRomeandwhat
atragicmistakeitwouldbeonTotila'sparttodestroyit.BelisariuswrotethatifTotiladestroyed
Rome,nogoodcouldcomeofit;ifTotilawonthiswar,hewouldhavetorebuildthecityhehad
destroyedatgreatexpense,whileifhelost,theempirewouldshownomercytosomeonewho
razedRome.Further,thegreatfameofthecitywouldattachitselfforevertoTotila'sname;ifhe
showedmercyandleftitintact,hewouldberememberedwellbyhistory,andifhedidnot,his
namewouldbeheldindishonorbyfuturegenerations.
Wolframcommentsonwhathappenednext,writing,"AndnowTotilacommitted-orwashe
compelledtocommit?-themomentousmistakeofgivingupRome"(356).Hecouldnotsimply
keephisforcesinRomewhiletherewasstillawartobefought,norcouldheleaveagarrisonofhis
soldiersbehindbecausehefelthewouldneedeverymaninthecomingmonthstodefeatthe
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empire.SomehistorianshaveclaimedthatTotilasimplymarchedoutofRome,whileothers,citing
thesamesources,arguethathetriedtosecurethecityand,whenthatfailed,heleftittothe
Romans.Wolfram,forexample,writes:
ItisnottruethatTotilaabandonedthecitycarelesslyallattemptstosecure
andholditmusthavefailedbecauseofthesheersizeofRome...ThusTotila
losthisfirst'battleforRome'andwithitmuchofhisprestige.Aslateas
549/550,justbeforehissecondcaptureofthecity,hissuitforthehandofone
ofthedaughtersofaFrankishkingwasrejectedwithreferencetothisdebacle
(356).

BelisariusmarchedhistroopsintoRome,repairedthewalls,andfortifiedthecityagainstfuture
attacks.Totila,meanwhile,continuedthewaragainsttheempirethroughoutItaly.Heliberatedthe
slavesoftheRomaneliteinthecountryandtookspecialpainstoensurethesafetyofthecommon
peopleandtheirlands.Wolframnotesthatthistactichasbeencalled"revolutionary"butargues
that"whatTotiladidwasnotrevolutionary;ratheritwasashrewdlycalculated,effectivemeansof
wagingwar"(356-357).Theempirehadinexhaustibleresources,whileTotila'swerelimitedtothe
countryofItaly.Itthereforemadesensetoprotectthelandanditspeopleasmuchashepossibly
could.Unliketheimperialforces,Totilacouldnotexpectsuppliesfromotherlands;hehadtomake
surehecouldfeedhistroopsfromtheproduceofItaly.

TOTILA'SSUCCESSANDTHECOMINGOFNARSES
Notonlywerehistroopsfedgladlybythepeasantfarmersbutmanyjoinedhisarmy.Between547548CE,heexperiencedanumberofvictoriesbutalsoaseriesofdefeatsandyet,evenso,deserters
fromtheimperialarmycontinuedtoswellhisranks,alongwithfarmersandothercivilianswho
hopedforafreeGothicnationunderTotila'srule.Inthesummerof549CE,hereturnedtobesiege
Rome.Thesiegelasteduntil16January550CEwhen,asbefore,Isauriansoldiersguardingthegates,
whoagainhadnotbeenpaidinmonths,openedthewayforTotila'sforces.Thistime,however,the
Romangarrisonwasnotgoingtogiveupsoeasilyandfoughtfortheircitywithgreatlossoflife.
Thosewhosurvivedthebattleinthestreetswereallowedtoleavethecityinpeaceiftheychose;
many,instead,joinedTotila'sarmy.
WithRomeagainunderhiscontrolandevenmoreofthecountryconquered,Totilaagainsent
emissariestoConstantinoplerequestingpeacewiththeempire.Incasehisoffersshouldberefused,
heledpartofhisarmytoSicilyandconquereditin550CE,thuscuttingoffanimportantsourceof
supplyandtradetotheempire.ItisthoughtthatperhapsTotilafeltthisvictorywouldimprovehis
bargainingpowerwiththeemperor.BeforeJustinianevenheardoftheSicilycampaign,however,he
gavehisanswer:Totila'semissariesweredeniedadmittancetohispresenceandthenarrested.
JustiniancalledBelisariusbackfromItalyandappointedhiscousinGermanusashighcommander.
GermanuswasthesecondhusbandofAmalasuntha(495-535CE),TheodorictheGreat'sdaughter,
andwashighlyregardedbytheGoths.Justinian'sstrategywastowinbackthosetroopswhohad
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desertedtoTotilabysendingamemberofTheodoric'sfamilyasheadofimperialforces.Germanus,
however,diedofdiseaseinthesummerof550CEbeforereachingItalyandwasreplacedby
anothergeneralnamedNarses.
Narseswasaeunuchatthecourtwhowasinchargeofthetreasurybut,priortothis,had
commandedtroopsunderBelisarius.Hewasaveryreligiousmanandhighlyrespectedbyhis
troops.HelandedinSalonainthesummerof551CEand,almostimmediately,turnedthetideof
thewarinfavoroftheempire.Gothicmoralewaslow.Theemissarieswhohadbeensentto
ConstantinoplewerefinallyreleasedandreturnedwiththemessagefromJustinianthattherewould
benopeaceandthewarwouldcontinue.
TheGothicarmyhadrecentlysufferedanotherdefeat,andtheirnewlybuiltfleethadbeenbadly
beatenbytheimperialnavyinaraidontheGreekmainland.TotilatookSardiniaandCorsicain551
CEand,withtheinteriorofItalysecurelyunderhiscontrol,felthewouldstillwinthewarnomatter
whatforcesJustiniansentagainsthim.TheinteriorofItalywascompletelyhis,hisalliancewiththe
Franksstillheld,andhenowhadSicily,Sardinia,andCorsicaasimportantsourcesforsupplies;he
wouldsoonhaveallofItalyunderhiscontrol,andJustinianwouldhavenochoicebuttosuefor
peace.HewouldprobablyhavebeencorrectinthisifhehadnotbeenfacingagenerallikeNarses.
NarsesquicklyevaluatedthesituationinItaly,recognizedthatitwaspointlesstoengageincity-tocitybattlesacrosshostileterraintoreachtheremainingimperialarmyinRavenna,andsodeviseda
plannoonecouldhaveforeseen.Wolframdescribesthesituation:
NeithertheFranksnortheGothspaidanyattentiontothecoastline,since
theybothconsideredittracklessbecauseofitsmanyestuariesandmarshes.
Yettheunimaginablehappened:ledbysuperbguides,Narsesmovedwitha
giganticarmyofclosetothirtythousandmenalongthecoasttoward
Ravenna.Thewatercourseswerecrossedonportablepontoonbridgesinthis
wayallGothicdefensesintheinteriorwerecircumvented(359).

HistorianJ.F.C.Fulleraddsthattheimperialfleetfollowedthetroopsonlandand"ferriedthem
acrosstheestuariesofthenumerousVenetianriversandlagoons"(323).Allthiswasaccomplished
withoutalertingtheGoths.NarsesenteredRavennainJune552CE,resuppliedhistroops,andthen
marchedtowardRome.HetookRiminieasilyandcontinuedontowardFano,routingwhatever
Gothicresistancehemet.

THEBATTLEOFTAGINAE
InlateJuneorearlyJuly,NarsesfoundhimselfinproximitytoTotila'sarmywhichwasmarchingfrom
Rometomeethim.HepitchedcampsomewherebetweenScheggiaandTadinointheApennine
ridge,choosingthehighgroundcarefullysothathecouldarrangehisarmyaboveanarrowplain
throughwhichTotila'sforceswouldhavetopasstomeethim.Totila,meanwhile,hadencamped13
milesawayatthevillageofTaginae.NarsessentmessengerstoasktheGothickingwhenhewould
bereadytojoininbattle.Totilarespondedthathewouldbereadyineightday'stime,butactually
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plannedtoattacktheimperialsthenextday.
NarsesreceivedthereplybutdismisseditasaployandrightlyguessedatTotila'sactualintentions.
HethereforemovedhisarmyintopositiononthehighgroundoftheplateauofBustaGallorumand
waitedforhisopponent'sadvance.Narses"arrangednolessthaneightthousandarchersina
crescent-shapedformationwelladaptedtothebrokenground"(Wolfram,360).Behindthearchers
heplacedhisfootsoldiersinphalanxformationandsethiscavalryonthewings.Fuller,citingthe
scholarSirCharlesOman,notesthatthisparticularformation"seemstohavebeenhisown
invention",andthatNarsestookcaretoplacethecenterofhislinefarbackfromtheflankingarchers
"sothatanenemyadvancingagainstthecentrewouldfindhimselfinanemptyspace,halfencircled
bybowmenandexposedtoarainofarrowsfrombothsides"(325-326).Narsesgaveordersthatno
onewastobreakranksandmealswouldbetakeninposition,infullgear,untilthebattlewaswon.
TotilamovedhisarmyforwardfromTaginaeandarrangedthemontheothersideoftheplain.He
placedhiscavalryinfront,aswascustomary,andhisinfantryintherear.Fullernotesthat"hisidea
wastowinthebattlebyasinglechargewhichwouldbreakhisenemy'scentre.Accordingto
Procopius,heorderedhisentirearmy'touseneitherbownoranyotherweapon...exceptthespear'.
Shouldthisbetrue,itmaywellbeaskedwhatpurposehehopedtoachievewithhisinfantry?"
(324-325).Totila'sson,Teias,wascommanding2,000cavalry,whichwereseparatedfromthemain
army,andTotilaneededtostallfortime.Heputonhismostsplendidarmorandrodetothearea
betweenthetwoarmies,whereheperformedthe"djerid",amountedlance-ride
demonstration/dance,whichProcopiusdescribesasbeingadmiredbyfriendandfoealike.When
hewasdone,herodebacktohislineswherehefoundTeiashadarrivedwiththecavalry.Hetook
offhisparadearmorandchangedintohisbattlearmorsoastoappearasjustanothermemberof
thecavalryandnotdrawattentiontohimselfasthekingoftheGoths.
Shortlyaftermid-daythebattlebeganwithaskirmishinwhich50imperialsoldierstookandhelda
nearbyhillanddrovetheGothforcesbacktotheirlines.Totilahopedhewouldbeabletocharge
unexpectedlyacrosstheplainandcatchNarses'menatlunch,buthewouldhavenosuchluck.Fuller
givesanaccountofthebattlebasedonProcopius'description:
TheGothstooknonoticeofthebowwingsoftheirenemy'slineandcharged
straightforwardagainstthephalanxofthedismountedbarbarians[atthe
centre]withtheinevitableresultthat,whiletheircentralsquadronsfailedto
breakthroughitsbristlinghedgeofspears,thoseontheflankswererakedby
theRomanarchers.HundredsofGothsmusthavefallenimmediatelyand
scoresofriderlesshorseshavegallopedaway,plungingandcareeringoverthe
battlefieldtoaddconfusiontothecentralsquadronswhich,presumably,were
outofbowshot.Itwouldappearthattheinitialchargewastheonlyorganized
one,andthatthosewhichfollowedwereimprovisedbyindividualleaders,for
nomentionismadeoftheGothichorseretiringbehindtheirinfantryto
reorganize.TowardeveningtheRomansbegantoadvance,andtheGothic
cavalry,nolongerabletoofferresistance,gavegroundandfinallybrokeback
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ontheirinfantry,not,asProcopiuswrites,`withthepurposeofrecovering
theirbreathandrenewingthefightwiththeirassistance,asiscustomarybut
toescape.Consequentlytheinfantrydidnotopenintervalstoreceivethem
norstandfasttorescuethembuttheyallbegantofleeprecipitatelywiththe
cavalry,andintherouttheykeptkillingeachotherjustasinabattleatnight'
(326327).

Totilawasmortallywoundedinthebattle,eitherearlyonorlater(therearetwodifferentaccounts)
andwascarriedbyhismentoCaprae-Caprara,wherehediedandwasquicklyburied.Accordingto
Procopius,hewaseitherkilledearlyinthebattleinthehailofarrowsorwasstruckbyaspearwhile
fleeingthefieldafterthefailureofthefirstcharge.Eitherway,Procopiusnotes,"hisdeathwasnot
worthyofhispastdeeds"(7.40.9).Procopius,whopresentsTotilaasanadmirableman,general,and
kingthroughouthiswork,seemsdisappointedwithhisconductatTaginaeandnotesthattherewas
nogoodreasontoleadhisarmyagainstanenemywhowassowellfortifiedandpositioned,nordid
itmakeanysensetorestrictthemtoonlytheuseofthespearinbattlewhentheyhadablearchers
intheirranks.SixthousandGothsdiedinthebattle,andmorelaterfromtheirwounds.Thelossesto
theimperialarmyweresoslighttheywerenotrecorded.TheBattleofTaginae,andthedeathof
Totila,endedanyhopeofGothicsupremacyovertheimperialforcesoftheemperorJustinian.

AFTERMATHANDLEGACY
TheGothsimmediatelycrownedTeiasastheirkingandfledtoSarnowhileNarses,afterpayingoff
hismercenariesandsendingthemhome,occupiedRome.Oncehehadre-suppliedhistroops,he
pursuedTeiasatSarno,whoretreatedtoapositionatMonsLactariuswherethefinalfull-scale
battleoftheGothicwarwasfoughtinOctoberof552CE.Teiaswaskilled,andtheremainderofthe
Gothicarmysurrendered.Theywereallowedtogatherwhatwealthandpossessionstheyclaimed
andleavethecountry.SomeGothiccommanderscontinuedtheresistanceandfoughtonuntil555
CEwiththeassistanceoftheFranks.Narses,however,wouldnottoleratesuchasituationand
destroyedtheFrankisharmyatCapuain554CEusingthesametacticshehademployedatTaginae.
HethenhunteddowntheremainingGothicleadersintheresistanceandexecutedthem.Italywas
againundertheruleoftheEasternRomanEmpire,andtheLogothetesreturnedtopreyonthe
peopleuntiltheLombardinvasionin568CE.AlthoughTotilalosttheBattleofTaginae,thewar,and
hislife,heisrememberedasthelastgreatkingoftheOstrogoths,whotriedtofreethelandofthe
GothsfromthegripofRome.Procopiusreferstohimconstantlyas"honorable","just",
"compassionate",and"courageous",eventhoughProcopiuswaswritingfromaRomanpointofview
and,typically,Romanwritersdidnotelevatethecharactersofenemiesofthestate.Historians
speculatethat,hadTotilalived,hewouldprobablyhavebeenanevengreaterrulerthan
Theodoric;asitwas,however,heisrememberedasanoblechampionofhispeoplewhofought,
anddied,forhispeople.

ABOUTTHEAUTHOR
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JOSHUAJ.MARK
Afreelancewriterandpart-timeProfessorofPhilosophyatMaristCollege,New
York,JoshuaJ.MarkhaslivedinGreeceandGermanyandtraveledthrough
Egypt.Heteachesancienthistory,writing,literature,andphilosophy.

HELPUSWRITEMORE
We'reasmallnon-profitorganisationrunbyahandfulofvolunteers.Eacharticlecosts
usabout$50inhistorybooksassourcematerial,pluseditingandservercosts.Youcan
helpuscreateevenmorefreearticlesforaslittleas$5permonth,andwe'llgiveyou
anad-freeexperiencetothankyou!
BECOMEAMEMBER

BIBLIOGRAPHY
ItalyandHerInvaders,BookVbyThomasHodgkin
Fuller,J.F.C,AMilitaryHistoryoftheWesternWorld.VolumeI.FromtheEarliestTimestotheBattle...(DaCapo,1987).
Goffart,W.A,BarbariansandRomans,A.D.418-584(PrincetonUniversityPress,1987).
Procopius,Procopius(HarvardUniversityPress,1914).
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CITETHISWORK

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