Sack of Rome (546)
Encyclopedia
The Sack of Rome
in 546 was carried out by the Gothic king Totila
during the Gothic War of 535–554 between the Ostrogoths
and the East Romans (Byzantines)
. Totila was based at Tivoli
and, in pursuit of his quest to reconquer the region of Latium
, he moved against Rome. The city's defenses held firm however, so he decided to starve the city into surrender.
Pope Vigilius
, who had fled to the safety of Syracuse, sent a flotilla of grain ships to feed Rome, but Totila's navy intercepted them near the mouth of the Tiber and captured the fleet. The imperial fleet, led by Belisarius
, failed to relieve the city and Rome was forced to open its gates to the Goths.
Rome was plundered, but Totila, who typically destroyed the fortifications of every city he took over, paused in his destruction of Rome's walls and gates. After Totila withdrew, Rome's walls and other fortifications were soon restored so Totila marched against it again. This time, he was defeated by Belisarius but the general did not follow up his advantage. Several cities including Perugia
were taken by the Goths, while Belisarius remained inactive and then was recalled from Italy. In 549
Totila advanced a third time against Rome, which he captured this time through the treachery of some of its starving defenders and this time the city was cleared of all human inhabitants for forty days.
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 546 was carried out by the Gothic king Totila
Totila
Totila, original name Baduila was King of the Ostrogoths from 541 to 552 AD. A skilled military and political leader, Totila reversed the tide of Gothic War, recovering by 543 almost all the territories in Italy that the Eastern Roman Empire had captured from his Kingdom in 540.A relative of...
during the Gothic War of 535–554 between the Ostrogoths
Ostrogothic Kingdom
The Kingdom established by the Ostrogoths in Italy and neighbouring areas lasted from 493 to 553. In Italy the Ostrogoths replaced Odoacer, the de facto ruler of Italy who had deposed the last emperor of the Western Roman Empire in 476. The Gothic kingdom reached its zenith under the rule of its...
and the East Romans (Byzantines)
Byzantine Empire
The Byzantine Empire was the Eastern Roman Empire during the periods of Late Antiquity and the Middle Ages, centred on the capital of Constantinople. Known simply as the Roman Empire or Romania to its inhabitants and neighbours, the Empire was the direct continuation of the Ancient Roman State...
. Totila was based at Tivoli
Tivoli, Italy
Tivoli , the classical Tibur, is an ancient Italian town in Lazio, about 30 km east-north-east of Rome, at the falls of the Aniene river where it issues from the Sabine hills...
and, in pursuit of his quest to reconquer the region of Latium
Latium
Lazio is one of the 20 administrative regions of Italy, situated in the central peninsular section of the country. With about 5.7 million residents and a GDP of more than 170 billion euros, Lazio is the third most populated and the second richest region of Italy...
, he moved against Rome. The city's defenses held firm however, so he decided to starve the city into surrender.
Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius
Pope Vigilius reigned as pope from 537 to 555, is considered the first pope of the Byzantine Papacy.-Early life:He belonged to a aristocratic Roman family; his father Johannes is identified as a consul in the Liber pontificalis, having received that title from the emperor...
, who had fled to the safety of Syracuse, sent a flotilla of grain ships to feed Rome, but Totila's navy intercepted them near the mouth of the Tiber and captured the fleet. The imperial fleet, led by Belisarius
Belisarius
Flavius Belisarius was a general of the Byzantine Empire. He was instrumental to Emperor Justinian's ambitious project of reconquering much of the Mediterranean territory of the former Western Roman Empire, which had been lost less than a century previously....
, failed to relieve the city and Rome was forced to open its gates to the Goths.
Rome was plundered, but Totila, who typically destroyed the fortifications of every city he took over, paused in his destruction of Rome's walls and gates. After Totila withdrew, Rome's walls and other fortifications were soon restored so Totila marched against it again. This time, he was defeated by Belisarius but the general did not follow up his advantage. Several cities including Perugia
Perugia
Perugia is the capital city of the region of Umbria in central Italy, near the River Tiber, and the capital of the province of Perugia. The city is located about north of Rome. It covers a high hilltop and part of the valleys around the area....
were taken by the Goths, while Belisarius remained inactive and then was recalled from Italy. In 549
549
Year 549 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. The denomination 549 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.- Byzantine Empire :* The Ostrogoths under Totila...
Totila advanced a third time against Rome, which he captured this time through the treachery of some of its starving defenders and this time the city was cleared of all human inhabitants for forty days.