Siege of Verona

The siege of Verona in the winter of 541, was an engagement during the Gothic War (535–554).

Siege of Verona (541)
Date 541 AD Location Verona 45°26′17.38″N 10°59′37.46″E Result Ostrogothic victory
Belligerents
Eastern Roman Empire	Ostrogoths
Commanders and leaders
Constantian Alexander	Totila
Strength
12,000	Unknown
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Unknown
class=notpageimage| Location within Italy Siege of Verona (Mediterranean)

The Byzantine army almost took the city after taking over the city gate with the assistance of an insider, but a quarrel erupted among the Byzantines regarding the distribution of the booty. The Ostrogoths under Totila exploited the disarray and retook the city.

Siege

The Romans besieged the city with some 12,000 troops. During the siege, a local guard of the Ostrogoth army collaborated with the Romans, and let them enter the city. Being forced to retreat out of the city, the Ostrogoths took advantage of the disorganized Roman army, most of whom were still located outside the city and were preoccupied with arguing over the "distribution" of the loot; with the gate still open, the Ostrogoths rushed inside and attacked the Romans from inside the city. Those Romans who already happened to be inside the city, where thus forced to "jump" out of it, in order to get away.

After the Byzantines lifted the siege, Totila pursued, and defeated them at the Battle of Faventia.

Sources

• Heather, Peter J. (2013). The Restoration of Rome: Barbarian Popes and Imperial Pretenders. Oxford University Press. ISBN 978-0199368518.
• Petersen, Leif Inge Ree (2013). Siege Warfare and Military Organization in the Successor States (400-800 AD): Byzantium, the West and Islam. BRILL. ISBN 978-9004254466.