Narses (also sometimes written Nerses; Armenian: Նարսես; Greek: Ναρσής) was one of the greatest generals in the service of the Byzantine Emperor Justinian I during the Roman reconquest that took place during Justinian’s reign. Narses was a Romanized Armenian, born around 480 in Persarmenia, a region that had been ceded to Persia by the Romans. He was a eunuch, a castrated man who served in the imperial palace as a chamberlain and a treasurer. He rose through the ranks and became a trusted adviser and a skilled commander. His greatest achievement was the conquest of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy for Byzantium, which he accomplished at the age of 74
Narses first distinguished himself in 532, when he helped save Justinian’s throne from a violent uprising known as the Nika revolt. He used his diplomatic skills and his wealth to bribe some of the rebels and to persuade them to abandon their leaders. He also led the imperial troops in the decisive attack that crushed the revolt and restored order in Constantinople
Narses was sent to Italy in 538 to assist Belisarius, another famous general, in the war against the Ostrogoths, who had established a powerful kingdom in Italy after the fall of the Western Roman Empire. However, Narses and Belisarius did not get along well, and their rivalry and mistrust hampered the military operations. Narses was recalled by Justinian in 539, and Belisarius continued the war until 540, when he captured the Ostrogothic capital of Ravenna and returned to Constantinople
The war in Italy was not over, however, as a new Ostrogothic king, Totila, revived the resistance and recaptured most of Italy by 545. Justinian sent Belisarius back to Italy in 544, but he did not give him enough resources or support, and Belisarius could not stop Totila’s advance. Belisarius left Italy in 548, and the situation seemed hopeless for the Byzantines
In 551, Justinian decided to make one last effort to reconquer Italy, and he entrusted the command to Narses, who was then 71 years old. Narses gathered a large and diverse army of about 30,000 men, including Byzantines, Armenians, Heruls, Lombards, Gepids, and Huns. He landed in southern Italy in 552 and marched northward, facing the Ostrogothic army near Taginae in the Apennines. There, he won a decisive victory, in which Totila was killed. Narses then proceeded to capture Rome, which had been sacked and abandoned by the Ostrogoths, and to secure the rest of Italy. He faced another Ostrogothic army, led by a new king, Teia, at Mons Lactarius near Vesuvius, and defeated them in 553, ending the Ostrogothic resistance. He also repelled the invasions of the Franks and the Alemanni, who tried to take advantage of the chaos in Italy, and restored peace and stability in the peninsula
Narses remained in Italy as the governor and the supreme commander until 567, when he was removed by Justinian’s successor, Justin II, who feared his popularity and power. Narses retired to a villa near Naples, where he died in 574, at the age of 94. He was buried in the church of St. John the Baptist in Naples, which he had built. He was revered by the Italians as a hero and a benefactor, and by the Byzantines as a loyal and successful servant of the empire. He was also respected by his enemies, such as the Lombards, who invaded Italy in 568 and conquered most of it, but left Narses’ tomb untouched
Narses was a remarkable man, who combined military genius, political acumen, and personal piety. He was a devout Christian, who had a special devotion to the Virgin Mary, and who built many churches and monasteries. He was also a patron of the arts and sciences, who supported scholars and artists, and who preserved and restored many ancient monuments and works of art. He was one of the most influential and successful figures of the 6th century, and one of the greatest generals of all time
Narses – Wikipedia
Narses | Persian Campaigns, Italy Invasion, Gothic War | Britannica
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