Siege of Verona

The siege of Verona in the winter of 541, was an engagement during the Gothic War (535–554).[1]

Siege of Verona (541)
Date541 AD
Location
Verona
45°26′17.38″N 10°59′37.46″E
Result Ostrogothic victory
Belligerents
Eastern Roman Empire Ostrogoths
Commanders and leaders
Constantian
Alexander		 Totila
Strength
12,000 Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown Unknown
Siege of Verona is located in Italy
Siege of Verona
Location within Italy
Siege of Verona is located in Mediterranean
Siege of Verona
Siege of Verona (Mediterranean)

The Byzantine army almost took the city after taking over the city gate with the assistance of an insider, but a quarrel erupted among the Byzantines regarding the distribution of the booty. The Ostrogoths under Totila exploited the disarray and retook the city.

Siege

The Romans besieged the city with some 12,000 troops.[2][1] During the siege, a local guard of the Ostrogoth army collaborated with the Romans, and let them enter the city.[3][lower-alpha 1] Being forced to retreat out of the city, the Ostrogoths took advantage of the disorganized Roman army, most of whom were still located outside the city and were preoccupied with arguing over the "distribution" of the loot; with the gate still open, the Ostrogoths rushed inside and attacked the Romans from inside the city.[5] Those Romans who already happened to be inside the city, where thus forced to "jump" out of it, in order to get away.[5]

After the Byzantines lifted the siege, Totila pursued, and defeated them at the Battle of Faventia.[1]

Footnotes
  1. The force that took over the gate were the Persian garrison of Sisauranon under their Persarmenian commander Artabazes that had recently joined the Byzantines after the Siege of Sisauranon (541).[4]

References
  1. Heather 2013, p. 162.
  2. Petersen 2013, p. 342.
  3. Petersen 2013, p. 330.
  4. Petersen 2013, p. 526.
  5. Petersen 2013, p. 265.

Sources
  • Heather, Peter J. (2013). The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199368518.
  • Petersen, Leif Inge Ree (2013). Siege Warfare and Military Organization in the Successor States (400-800 AD): Byzantium, the West and Islam. BRILL. ISBN 978-9004254466.
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