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'''Flavius Belisarius''' 505(?)-565 AD was a Roman general under the emperor [[Justinian I]]. He is considered one of the greatest generals of all time, having defeated the [[Persians]] at the [[Battle of Daras]], destroyed the kingdom of the [[Vandals]] in North Africa as well as the [[Ostrogothic]] kingdom in Italy.
According to the historian [[Procopius]], Belisarius was born in the town of Germania, between the provinces of Illyricum and Thrace on the site of the current-day Bulgarian town of [[Sapareva Banya]].
He was married to [[Antonina]] and had one natural daughter, [[Johanina]], and one step-son [[Photius]]. He may have had other step-children as well. His adopted son, [[Theodosius]], was rumored to have been the secret paramour of Antonina, according to the [[Anecdotae]] or Secret History of Procopius.
In his later years, after living in disgrace for some time, he was called by Justinian to defend [[Constantinople]] in 559 AD against an invasion of [[Bulgar Huns]] under their khan, [[Zabergan]]. With the bulk of the Roman armies tied down in [[Italy]] and on the Persian frontier, Belisarius was able to muster only 500 veterans and a few thousand poorly-armed civilians to face an army of Huns some 20,000 strong. Advancing to the town of Chettus about 20 miles from Constantinople, Belisarius was able to maneuver the Huns into a disadvantageous position using stratagems and ambush them, cutting to pieces a scout column of 2,000. The Huns retreated and Belisarius was recalled to Constantinople by Justinian. The [[Battle of Chettus]] was his last great achievement before his death in March of 565 AD.
==References==
*Procopius of Caesarea, ''History of the Wars''
* Lord Mahon (Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope), ''The Life of Belisarius'', 1848. Reprinted 2006 (unabridged with editorial comments) Evolution Publishing. [https://books.google.com/books?id=H9HziHD-2aEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:The+intitle:Life+intitle:of+intitle:Belisarius&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES full 1848 text online from Google]
==Belisarius in Fiction==
* Belzoni, Paolo, ''Belisarius: The Last Shall Be First''
* Graves, Robert, ''Count Belisarius.''
* Lessard, Joseph, ''Hero of Byzantium.''
* Marmontel, ''Belisarius.''
==Links==
[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html Text of Procopius' '''Secret History''']
<references/>
[[Category:Military Commanders]]
[[Category:Byzantine Empire]]
'''Flavius Belisarius''' 505(?)-565 AD was a Roman general under the emperor [[Justinian I]]. He is considered one of the greatest generals of all time, having defeated the [[Persians]] at the [[Battle of Daras]], destroyed the kingdom of the [[Vandals]] in North Africa as well as the [[Ostrogothic]] kingdom in Italy.
According to the historian [[Procopius]], Belisarius was born in the town of Germania, between the provinces of Illyricum and Thrace on the site of the current-day Bulgarian town of [[Sapareva Banya]].
He was married to [[Antonina]] and had one natural daughter, [[Johanina]], and one step-son [[Photius]]. He may have had other step-children as well. His adopted son, [[Theodosius]], was rumored to have been the secret paramour of Antonina, according to the [[Anecdotae]] or Secret History of Procopius.
In his later years, after living in disgrace for some time, he was called by Justinian to defend [[Constantinople]] in 559 AD against an invasion of [[Bulgar Huns]] under their khan, [[Zabergan]]. With the bulk of the Roman armies tied down in [[Italy]] and on the Persian frontier, Belisarius was able to muster only 500 veterans and a few thousand poorly-armed civilians to face an army of Huns some 20,000 strong. Advancing to the town of Chettus about 20 miles from Constantinople, Belisarius was able to maneuver the Huns into a disadvantageous position using stratagems and ambush them, cutting to pieces a scout column of 2,000. The Huns retreated and Belisarius was recalled to Constantinople by Justinian. The [[Battle of Chettus]] was his last great achievement before his death in March of 565 AD.
==References==
*Procopius of Caesarea, ''History of the Wars''
* Lord Mahon (Philip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope), ''The Life of Belisarius'', 1848. Reprinted 2006 (unabridged with editorial comments) Evolution Publishing. [https://books.google.com/books?id=H9HziHD-2aEC&printsec=frontcover&dq=intitle:The+intitle:Life+intitle:of+intitle:Belisarius&lr=&num=30&as_brr=0&as_pt=ALLTYPES full 1848 text online from Google]
==Belisarius in Fiction==
* Belzoni, Paolo, ''Belisarius: The Last Shall Be First''
* Graves, Robert, ''Count Belisarius.''
* Lessard, Joseph, ''Hero of Byzantium.''
* Marmontel, ''Belisarius.''
==Links==
[http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/procop-anec.html Text of Procopius' '''Secret History''']
<references/>
[[Category:Military Commanders]]
[[Category:Byzantine Empire]]