Sack of Rome (546)
The sack of Rome of 546 took place after a year long siege carried out by the Gothic King Totila during the Gothic War (535–554) between the Ostrogoths (Goths) and the Byzantine Empire. The siege caused severe famine, worsened by corruption among the Byzantine defenders, who hoarded and sold food at inflated prices. Attempts by the general Belisarius to relieve the city failed due to poor coordination and setbacks. On 17 December 546, Gothic forces entered Rome after a group of Isaurian guards betrayed the city and assisted the Goths to breach the walls and opened one of the gates at night. Most of the inhabitants fled, leaving only a small number of civilians who sought refuge in churches. The city was then plundered, though the level of destruction was less extreme than Totila had initially intended. The Goths partially dismantled Rome's walls before withdrawing, aiming to weaken its strategic value for the Byzantines to recapture it. Despite the city's desolate state, Belisarius repaired the fortifications and successfully defended the city. The siege was the first check against Totila's streak of successes during the Gothic resurgence.
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Via Giovanni Amendola, Rome Municipio Roma I
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Geographical coordinates (GPS)
| Latitude | Longitude |
|---|---|
| N 41.9 ° | E 12.5 ° |
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Green Line Tours
Via Giovanni Amendola 32
00185 Rome, Municipio Roma I
Lazio, Italy
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