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BELISARIUS

BIOGRAPHY WORKBOOK FOR GRADES 7-12

BELISARIUS (505-565 C.E.)

Few men have performed Emperor Justinian, was an equally greater achievements than this remarkable personage, capable of general, to whom it was given to be conceiving and accomplishing conqueror again and again over magnificent designs, yet withal of a nations hitherto invincible, and to mean, ungenerous, ungrateful arrest, during his own lifetime, the character. Justinian was responsible disintegration of the . for the codification (under He lived in the early part of the sixth Christianized conditions) of the old century of the Christian era, though Roman law (known as the Justinian the date of his birth is not certainly Code), so as to serve as the foundation known, and he was in the prime of life of jurisprudence to all the European about 530. Belisarius is believed to nations except the English; the have been the son of a peasant of building of the church of St. , probably of Slavonian descent, (Hagia Sophia); and the rolling back as his name, stripped of its classical for a time the flood that on all sides form, would belong to that language was overwhelming the ancient Empire and would be Beli-than, or the White of , were all due to this prince. Prince. 2. Who ruled as emperor of the 1. Describe Belisarius’ father. Eastern Roman (Byzantine) ______Empire during the life of ______Belisarius? ______For the last two centuries, the Apparently he began life as a Eastern and the Western Roman common soldier, and gradually rose by empires had been separated, though courage and ability. His master, the sometimes coalescing under one head.

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Belisarius But in 476 C.E., the last titular This was the inheritance to Emperor of the West had been deposed which Justinian succeeded, in right of (Romulus Augustus at the hands of his uncle , a successful soldier. the barbarian Odoacer). had He was forty-five years old at the been the prey of successive swarms of time, in 527 C.E., having had an Teutonic (Germanic) nations. entirely civil and literary training. and (or Eastern ) had And though warfare continued burst upon Rome. While the Vandals through the thirty-eight years of his proceeded to devastate the great reign, he never once appeared at the Roman province of Northern head of his armies. Yet his foresight and set up a kingdom there, the Goths and ambition were great, and he had had established another in Italy. not long been on the throne before he decided on an endeavor to recover the 3. Who deposed Romulus Augustus in African provinces. 476 CE? ______5. Do you believe that a solely civil ______and literary education is adequate ______for a future emperor? Why or why ______not? ______Constantinople still held its ______ground as the magnificent capital of ______the Eastern Empire, maintaining the ______old civilization. But its dominions ______were threatened by the vigorous ______Persians on the east, and on the north ______by the Bulgarians, a nation chiefly ______Slavonic and very savage and ______formidable. ______4. What city served as the capital of ______the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) ______Empire? ______

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Belisarius The Vandals were Arian this, as in other respects, to the great heretics, denying the Godhead and English Duke of Marlborough. Eternity of the Christian God. They had cruelly persecuted and constantly 7. Name Belisarius’ wife. oppressed the Catholics, who ______entreated the Eastern Empire to ______deliver them, so that religious zeal added strength to Justinian's 8. Name Justinian’s wife. ambition. The luxuries of ______and the other African cities had in a ______couple of generations done much to destroy the vigor of the Vandals, so Belisarius only took on this that the conjuncture was favorable. expedition 10,000 foot and 6,000 horse, picked men, with carefully 6. What religious sect (of which the selected officers, bred in the old Vandals were part) was considered Roman discipline, for he much heretical? preferred a small army whom he could ______trust, to a large and unwieldy host. ______His fleet amounted to 500 vessels of ______different sizes. The expedition sailed from Belisarius had proved his Heraclea in June, 533, and one of the abilities in a dangerous retreat in the first acts of the general showed his Persian war, but he probably owed his sternness of discipline. A murder was appointment to the African expedition committed in a drunken fit by two to his wife Antonina. Antonina was , and he immediately hung them the daughter of a charioteer in the both. Belisarius silenced the murmurs exhibitions of the hippodrome, which of the rest by a speech in which he were loved to a passionate, almost declared that Roman arms must be incredible degree, by the people of the carried in pure hands, and that no Eastern cities. Theodora, the wife of courage would obtain pardon for the emperor, was likewise the child of violence or insubordination. one of these competitors in the races. Both ladies were devotedly loved by 9. From where did Belisarius’ their husbands, and it was thus that expedition sail in June of 533 CE? Belisarius obtained the opportunity ______for his career, a curious parallel in ______

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Vocabulary Terms: Match each vocabulary term (found in the text above) with its definition.

10. _____ a distinguished or important person 11. _____ a professed believer whose religious opinions differ from those of his or her church 12. _____ act or process of arranging in a systematic form 13. _____ active, robust, and strong 14. _____ beseeched or implored 15. _____ condition or quality of being defiant to authority 16. _____ incapable of being defeated 17. _____ the act or process of deteriorating or breaking up 18. _____ the philosophy or of law 19. _____ to grow into one body 20. _____ to make an effort or strive 21. _____ to render desolate

Terms

(A) coalesce (G) heretic (B) codification (H) insubordination (C) devastate (I) invincible (D) disintegration (J) jurisprudence (E) endeavor (K) personage (F) entreated (L) vigorous

Belisarius landed in September violence. Indeed , king of the at Caput Vadas, five days' distance Vandal horde, was only like an enemy from Carthage, without opposition and occupying the place. There had been with an eager welcome from the no amalgamation, and persecution natives. The natives rejoiced to be had sown seeds of bitter hatred. delivered from the Vandal oppression, Gelimer, however, marched out to and Belisarius preserved their meet the invaders, and at ten miles goodwill by hindering his soldiers from from Carthage was totally defeated, committing any act of plunder or and his brother and nephew killed.

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 5 22. Who was king of the Vandals at rival, nor could the scrupulous loyalty this time? of Belisarius disarm him. It is said ______that Gelimer marched along, ______repeating, "Vanity of vanities, all is ______vanity." The next scheme of Justinian Gelimer fled into the deserts of was the recovery of Italy from the , recalling his brother who Goths. This people had never shown was putting down a revolt in , the same savage cruelty as the and leaving the city to Belisarius, who Vandals, but had settled amicably entered on the feast of the great among the Italians, and adopted much Carthaginian martyr, St. Cyprian, of their civilization and learning. They amid the extreme joy of the populace. had recently had a truly great When the brother of Gelimer returned monarch, Theodoric, who deserves to from Sardinia there was still another rank with Alfred or Charlemagne, but battle to fight, but as usual Belisarius he had left only a daughter, conquered. Gelimer submitted and Amalasanta, a noble woman, and an received an estate in Galatia, and ally of Justinian. lived there in honor and prosperity for Amalasanta was stifled in her the rest of his days. The bravest of his bath by Theodatus, the husband warriors took service in the Roman whom she had raised to the throne. army under their victor. Gelimer had, The Gothic kingdom was convulsed by however, first to march in the triumph the crime, and Justinian saw both of Belisarius, the only one ever held at motive and opportunity for conquest. . Yet he only gave Belisarius 4,500 horse and 3,000 infantry when this 23. To where did Gelimer retire? great enterprise was begun in 535, ______besides some choice troops of the ______imperial guard. ______24. How was Amalasanta killed? Justinian had recalled the ______general, though it would have been far ______wiser to have left him to consolidate ______his conquest. But no Roman emperor could be free from the suspicion that a Sailing to , Belisarius met victorious general might become his no resistance except at Panormis Belisarius (). But observing that his had found that the passage for the masts overtopped the walls, Belisarius water could easily be enlarged so as to hung up small rafts full of archers, admit armed men. whose arrows disconcerted the Once more he summoned the inhabitants so that they surrendered, native magistrates, but the and the whole island was restored to inhabitants would not submit, and he the Roman power. Theodatus tried to sent on the bravest of his men, with treat with Justinian, and while the two trumpets and with lanterns, while negotiations were going on, Belisarius he made an attack to divert the crossed over to the African province, attention of the Goths. The way was which was threatened by the Moors of long, and the soldiers found Mount Atlas. Strong measures were themselves in the very heart of needed, but for the time the incursions , in a basin with very steep were repressed. And by the time the sides, impossible, as it seemed, to bad faith of Theodatus had disgusted climb. One man, however, scrambled the Greeks, Belisarius was ready to up and found himself in a hovel, where cross into Italy and besiege Naples. As he obtained a rope and pulled up his usual, the native inhabitants were his companions. friends, but were in terror of the The Goths who were resisting Gothic garrison, and these, on their the escalade, threw down their arms side, were afraid of treating with the when they were attacked from behind. Greek general because Theodatus had Belisarius did his utmost to stop their wives and children as hostages. slaughter and plunder, but could not entirely succeed, for many of his 25. Why was the Gothic garrison soldiers were savage Huns, barely afraid of Theodatus? kept under restraint at any time. ______26. How did Belisarius’ soldiers ______enter the city of Naples? ______Theodatus, however, shut ______himself up in Rome and gave no aid to ______Naples. Belisarius had made up his mind to raise the siege and attack Theodatus remained in Rome, Rome itself, when one of his soldiers and appointed a brave general called came to tell him that in exploring an Vetiges by the Greeks, but whose aqueduct which had been stopped, he name was probably Wittich, to the

www.STUDENTHANDOUTS.com Page 7 Belisarius command. The army suspected Goths, under Wittich, were gallant treachery, raised Wittich on their enemies, but the diseases of the shields, and proclaimed him king. Campagna reduced their numbers. Theodatus fled, and was murdered on Finally, late in the March of 538, his way, in 536. Wittich thought it Wittich broke up his camp and better to draw off to to retreated to Ravenna. There Witich reorganize his army, so the way to called the to his assistance, Rome was left open to Belisarius, who but they were mere barbarians, who had only to summon a small garrison plundered Goths as well as Italians to submit. and added to the general misery of the country. At last, in 539, Wittich 27. What leader was murdered in yielded Ravenna to Belisarius who 536 CE? sent him to Constantinople, where he ______lived in honor and prosperity. ______28. Who was sent to Constantinople, where he lived in honor and Belisarius gained Rome in the prosperity? March of 537, and immediately ______repaired the defenses. Indeed there ______was need, for Wittich besieged ______Belisarius there for a whole year, and he had terrible difficulties to contend Justinian recalled his general, with. The Roman populace had lost all always fearing the result of his their spirit of patriotism, and success. The city of was still left murmured from the first that with a to the Goths, and here they chose as mere handful of soldiers, Belisarius king, a kinsman of Wittich, called should bring down the Goths upon , young, gallant, and generous. them. When the distresses of a The utter incapacity and greed of protracted siege came on them, the Justinian's governors left the country Romans loudly complained, though all open to him, and he traversed the the useless mouths were safely sent off whole peninsula collecting Goths by sea to the fertile fields about again to his standard, till their Naples. kingdom was restored. Indeed the It is impossible to dwell at whole of the land was so desolate that length on the events of the siege and hardly any opposition was offered. the gallant deeds on either side. The

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Belisarius 29. Why did Justinian recall 30. Who occupied Rome in 546 CE? Belisarius? a. Belisarius ______b. Justinian ______c. Totila ______d. Wittich ______Belisarius tried to rebuild the ______defenses, but Justinian would not send him money or men. When Totila In 544 Justinian was obliged to again advanced, Belisarius was forced send Belisarius back to Italy, but most to abandon the beloved and honored insufficiently supplied with men and city. Justinian then recalled money. He had in the meantime been Belisarius, preferring to leave Italy to fighting on the Persian frontier, with its fate rather than trust to his the great King Chosroës, and with unswerving loyalty. An unwarlike more success than could have been despot, who knew that the will of an hoped for with such means as were at army might at any time raise a his disposal. Belisarius came to popular captain in his stead, could Ravenna, but his forces were too hardly fail to dread the one man who scanty to enable him to undertake any was beloved by his soldiers and always enterprise, and where he did not successful. The Empress Theodora command in person, the so-called was dead, and no honors awaited Roman captains were uniformly Belisarius, only undeserved suspicion. beaten. Once again, however, the great Totila occupied Rome in 546, man was called for. The Bulgarians and tried to destroy it, overthrowing were desolating Thrace. There was an the walls and beginning to ruin the outcry that none but Belisarius could ancient buildings. Belisarius wrote to save the Empire. He was placed at the him a remonstrance, telling him how head of only 300 old soldiers, and after-ages would regard such found the peasants helpless and destruction. Totila actually thanked incapable. Yet Belisarius succeeded in the great general for his advice and repulsing the enemy and driving them spared the churches and monuments, beyond the . but carried off all the inhabitants, so The outcries of admiration that when, forty days later, Belisarius alarmed the emperor, now in his re-entered the city, not a man was eightieth year, and the notion that found there. Belisarius, almost as old, must be a

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Belisarius traitor, haunted him. There was a real Justinian seems to have repented, and conspiracy, and the enemies of the he restored to Belisarius his wealth general accused him of sharing in it. and his palace, in which, shortly after, The acts of accusation were read to the the old man died on the 13th of March, old man, but he stood, listening and 565, only eight months before his not answering a single word, no doubt ungrateful sovereign. in his disdain. The emperor caused the brave old man's eyes to be put out, and 31. Summarize the ways that Justinian undermined, insulted, he was stripped of all his possessions. and otherwise harmed Belisarius. It is said that Belisarius stood in Do you believe that Justinian was front of his former palace with a justified in his actions? If you were wooden dish for alms. "Date obolum Justinian, what might you have done differently? If you were ," give a penny to Belisarius, Belisarius, what might you have has become a proverb. However, done differently?

______

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Belisarius

Belisarius receiving alms.

Word Search Puzzle

B E L I S A R I U S J I N R E T S A E T Antonina K U S E L P A N E H Belisarius eastern R G S J C S H I N E emperor empire O E N T O D E N E O enemies R N A N I R M O M D general Italy E E M B T N P T I O Justinian Naples P R O M A Q I N E R Romans Theodora M A R A L E R A S A E L L F Y P E T N G

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