Battle of Faventia
Battle of Faventia | |||||||
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Part of the Gothic War | |||||||
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Belligerents | |||||||
Ostrogothic Kingdom | Byzantine Empire | ||||||
Commanders and leaders | |||||||
Totila | Constantian Alexander | ||||||
Strength | |||||||
5,000[1] | 12,000 |
In the spring of 542, at the Battle of Faventia (modern Faenza), an Ostrogothic army under king Totila scattered the larger Roman forces of generals Constantian and Alexander,[1] beginning the resurgence of Gothic resistance to the Roman reconquest of Italy. Before the battle, Valaris, a gigantic Goth, challenged any Roman to do single combat with him. Valaris was slain by the Byzantine soldier Artabazes, who was also mortally wounded.
Battle
[edit]The key moment during the battle, was, according to Procopius, when the Roman rear was violently attacked by some 300 men of the Ostrogothic cavalry.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Heather 2013, p. 162.
Sources
[edit]- Heather, Peter J. (2013). The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199368518.