A Romanized Greek born in modern-day Bulgaria, Belisarius was the preeminent Byzantine general of the sixth century, reconquering North Africa, Sicily, and much of Italy on behalf of Justinian I. Despite these achievements, his career was repeatedly undermined by Theodora's jealousy and Justinian's distrust, and his second Italian campaign was conducted with only 4,000 men and no supreme authority, producing a stubborn stalemate against Totila rather than the decisive victory his resources might have permitted. He remained loyal throughout and never grew embittered, ending his active service by organizing improvised volunteers to repel a Hunnic raid in his mid-fifties before his death at around sixty.
What each episode says
Episode 7 (2 mentions)
Only in his twenties during the Nika Revolt, Belisarius is described by Brownworth as already perhaps the most brilliant tactician in Roman history. He devised the plan to suppress the revolt and led the assault on the Hippodrome alongside Mundus and Narcissus. Brownworth teases his fuller story for the next episode, calling him the empire's most brilliant and tragic general who would fulfill Justinian's dream of epic reconquests.
“Lastly and most importantly, there was Belisarius.”
“the empire's most brilliant and tragic general, Belisarius, who fulfilled Justin's dream”
Episode 8 (50 mentions)
Belisarius is the central figure of this episode — a Romanized Greek born in modern-day Bulgaria whom Gibbon called 'the Scipio of New Rome.' Brownworth presents him as a natural leader of extraordinary brilliance and loyalty who reconquered North Africa and most of Italy, yet was repeatedly thwarted by Theodora's jealousy and Justinian's distrust, spending much of his later career in disappointing frustration.
“to one man and one man only, the 27-year-old Belisarius. The story of the reconquest of”
“Belisarius, by contrast, sailed with only 15,000 men. He did not, however, get off to an auspicious”
“reconquest. He gave the order and in 535 Belisarius sailed with 7,500 men. Events, however,”
Episode 9 (28 mentions)
The great general who conducted Justinian's second Italian campaign with only 4,000 men and no supreme authority, achieving a stubborn stalemate against Totila despite impossible odds. Brownworth portrays him as loyal to a fault, repeatedly undermined by jealousy at court, yet never embittered; he ended his career defeating a Hunnic raid in his mid-fifties with improvised volunteers, and died five years later at age sixty.
“Belisarius' first Italian campaign, which seemingly restored Italy to the Empire.”
“cautiously sent Belisarius to Italy with only 4,000 men and without supreme authority.”
“and energy of both a Justinian and a Belisarius, two luxuries it would never again have.”
Episode 11 (1 mention)
“victories of Justinian and Belisarius.”
Episode 13 (2 mentions)
Mentioned as a historical benchmark — Brownworth calls Nikephoros Phokas possibly the greatest general since Belisarius, and also references Belisarius' earlier reconquest of Sicily in the 6th century.
“certainly since Heraclius, and perhaps even since Belisarius.”
“Belisarius in the 6th century that had fallen to the Muslims in the 9th.”
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