A Byzantine general who served under Belisarius during the Gothic Wars, John was repeatedly at the center of command failures stemming from his insubordination and personal rivalry with his superior. During the earlier Italian campaign he captured Rimini deep behind Gothic lines but refused to obey Belisarius's order to withdraw, insisting Narses countersign any directive, and afterward credited Narses rather than Belisarius for his rescue. Sent back to Italy with reinforcements to relieve Rome, he instead marched independently to reconquer the south, a decision that directly contributed to the city's fall to Totila.
What each episode says
Episode 8 (10 mentions)
John was the commander Belisarius sent with 2,000 horsemen on a raiding campaign behind Gothic lines. He captured Rimini, only 33 miles from Ravenna, but then flatly refused Belisarius's order to withdraw, insisting Narses countersign any command. After being rescued, he gave all credit to Narses rather than Belisarius, deepening the rift in the Byzantine command.
“2,000 horsemen on a raiding campaign to put pressure behind the Gothic lines. John succeeded”
“point of the entire war. If, he concluded, turning to Belisarius, John has treated your orders with”
“which the emperor himself and from us his subjects. The implications were clear. John was to be”
Episode 9 (2 mentions)
Described as an arrogant general who had previously been a thorn in Belisarius' side, John was sent to Italy with a sizable reinforcement force. Rather than cooperating with Belisarius to relieve Rome, he marched off independently to reconquer southern Italy, directly contributing to the fall of Rome to Totila.
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