Belisarius

Flavius Belisarius was a Byzantine general under Emperor Justinian I, born around 500 in Germaneia and considered one of the greatest military commanders of Byzantium and of history generally. He first won prominence in the Iberian War against Sassanid Persia, defeating a much larger Persian army at the Battle of Dara in 530 despite a later setback at Callinicum. Sent west in 533 to reclaim former Roman territory, he conquered the Vandal Kingdom of North Africa in only nine months, winning at Ad Decimum and Tricamarum and compelling the Vandal king Gelimer to surrender. From 535 he led the Gothic War in Italy, capturing Rome from the Ostrogoths in December 536 and successfully defending the city through a long siege in 537 and 538. Recalled east in 541 to face renewed Persian pressure in the Lazic War, he won at Nisibis through careful positioning and deception, and he returned to Italy from 544 to 549 to contain a Gothic resurgence under Totila before being relieved with inadequate resources. He died in March 565.