Siege of Rome, 537–538

After Belisarius occupied Rome in 536, King Witiges brought a large Ostrogothic army against the city. The defenders repaired the walls, guarded aqueducts and gates, and endured repeated assaults while waiting for reinforcements and supplies.

The siege lasted more than a year and caused severe hardship for soldiers and civilians. Gothic forces eventually withdrew after failing to break the defence.

The event is one of the principal settings for historical fiction about Belisarius and Justinian’s attempt to reconquer Italy.