Siege of Naples (542–543)

The siege of Naples was a successful siege of Naples by the Ostrogothic leader Totila in 542–543 AD. After crushing the Byzantine armies at Faventia and Mucellium, Totila marched south towards Naples, held by the general Conon with 1,000 men.^[1][2]

Siege of Naples
Part of the Gothic War
Date November 542 – March/April 543 AD Location Naples, Italy Result Ostrogothic victory
Belligerents
Eastern Roman Empire	Ostrogoths
Commanders and leaders
Conon	Totila
Strength
1,000 men	Unknown

Siege

A relief force sent from Sicily under the newly appointed magister militum Demetrius was intercepted by Gothic ships and largely destroyed before reaching the city. A second attempt by Demetrius also failed when adverse winds forced the fleet ashore, where it was overrun by Totila's forces.^[3][4]

Aftermath

With the garrison weakened by famine and the collapse of relief efforts, Totila offered safe passage in exchange for surrender. Conon accepted, and in late March or early April 543 the city capitulated. Totila allowed the defenders to depart safely, though portions of the city walls were dismantled.^[3]

Sources

• Bury, John Bagnell (1958). History of the Later Roman Empire: From the Death of Theodosius I to the Death of Justinian, Volume 2. Mineola, New York: Dover Publications, Inc. pp. 231–233. ISBN 0-486-20399-9. {{cite book}}: ISBN / Date incompatibility (help)