Byzantine Reconquest

As new Germanic kingdoms formed across the West, the Western Roman Empire weakened step by step and finally collapsed in 476. The Visigoths - A Germanic kingdom that emerged from the Visigothic migrations, centered first in southern Gaul and later in Hispania with its capital at Toledo. formed a kingdom in 418 and later shifted their center to Spain, the Vandals - A Germanic kingdom founded in North Africa with its capital at Carthage, dominating the western Mediterranean with a powerful fleet. seized North Africa and made Carthage their capital in 439, and the Ostrogoths - After being subjugated by the Huns, the Ostrogoths regained independence and migrated to Italy. Under Theodoric, they replaced Odoacer's rule and established a kingdom that sought to preserve Roman administration and culture. under Theoderic established a kingdom in Italy from 493. For decades these states ruled much of the western Mediterranean while the Eastern Roman Empire - The medieval continuation of the Roman Empire in the East, centered on Constantinople. For over a millennium, it served as a bastion of Christianity and Roman law, preserving ancient knowledge until its fall in 1453. watched and rebuilt its strength.

The reconquest began in 533 AD with the Vandalic War. Belisarius - A brilliant Eastern Roman general under Justinian I, instrumental in the reconquest of the Mediterranean territory. landed in North Africa with a small force and achieved a stunningly rapid victory. Within a year, he defeated King Gelimer - Gelimer (c. at the Battles of Ad Decimum and Tricamarum, capturing Carthage and ending the Vandal Kingdom forever. This success encouraged Justinian - Eastern Roman Emperor known for his ambitious restoration of the Empire, the codification of Roman law, and the construction of Hagia Sophia. to target Italy next.

The Gothic War (535–554 AD) proved far more difficult. Belisarius quickly took Sicily and Naples, then captured Rome in 536 AD. However, the Ostrogoths rallied under King Totila - Totila (died 552 AD) was the penultimate King of the Ostrogoths in Italy., who retook much of Italy and dragged the war into a brutal stalemate that devastated the peninsula. Belisarius was recalled, and it was the eunuch general Narses - Narses (c. who finally defeated Totila at the Battle of Taginae in 552 AD.

While Italy was in flames, a civil war in Visigothic Spain allowed Justinian to send a small expedition in 552 AD, seizing the southern coast (Spania). By 554 AD, the Mediterranean was once again a 'Roman Lake', but the cost was immense. Italy was depopulated and ruined, and the empire's resources were exhausted, leaving it vulnerable to future threats.