Siege of Rome (537–538)
| Siege of Rome | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Gothic War | |||||||||
| |||||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||||
| Eastern Roman Empire | Ostrogothic Kingdom | ||||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||||
| Belisarius | Vitiges | ||||||||
| Strength | |||||||||
|
5,000 men 5,600 reinforcements unknown number of conscripts Hunnic mercenaries |
25,000–30,000 men | ||||||||
The first siege of Rome during the Gothic War lasted for a year and nine days, from 2 March 537 to 12 March 538. The city was besieged by the Ostrogothic army under their king Vitiges; the defending East Romans were commanded by Belisarius, one of the most famous and successful Roman generals. The siege was the first major encounter between the forces of the two opponents, and played a decisive role in the subsequent development of the war.