History of Warfare Summary 17 - Justinian's Expansionist Wars Part 5: Narses and the Fall of the Ostrogothic Kingdom

As the Gothic Wars dragged on, Justinian utilized not only Belisarius but also Narses as key commanders. After Belisarius returned to Constantinople in 540, the Ostrogothic forces regained strength. Totila became king, seizing most of Italy, and Rome was attacked again, suffering heavy damage. In 552, Justinian dispatched Narses to Italy with a large army. Narses defeated Totila's forces at the Battle of Taginae, and Totila was killed. Following this, the Ostrogothic resistance rapidly weakened, and the last king, Theia, was defeated at the Battle of Mons Lactarius in 553. Thus, the Ostrogothic Kingdom effectively collapsed, and most of Italy came back under Eastern Roman rule. However, the conquest caused significant destruction to cities and the countryside, leading to a decrease in population and productivity. Although Justinian recovered the old territories, he had to commit continuous troops and finances to maintain Italy. Therefore, the Gothic Wars resulted in both a military victory and immense costs.