Narses
For other historical figures with similar names, see Narses (disambiguation).Narses (also sometimes written Nerses) (
478-
573) was with
Belisarius, one of the great generals in the service of the
Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I during the so-called "Reconquest" that took place during Justinian's reign.
Narses was a Romanized
Armenian from the noble
Kamsarakan family, which claimed descent from the royal
Arsacid dynasty. He spent most of his life as a relatively unimportant
eunuch in the palace of the emperors in
Constantinople.
He was 74 in
552, when the ever-suspicious Justinian recalled
Belisarius from his campaign against the
Ostrogoths in
Italy and replaced him with Narses. Despite his age, he proved to be as energetic and skilled as his predecessor, though history has generally credited Belisarius with the greater ability. He launched another campaign against the Ostrogoths, finally defeating their formidable King
Baduila at the
Battle of Taginae. In
553 he defeated the remnants of the Ostrogoth army at the
Battle of Mons Lactarius. In
554 he drove the
Franks and
Alamanni, who had come to help the Ostrogoths, back over the
Alps. Eventually, the surviving Ostrogoths surrendered to him and Italy was restored to the empire.
Narses remained in Italy as its prefect (governor) but his administration was unpopular. After Justinian's death, his nephew
Justin II removed him as prefect and demanded he return to
Constantinople. Narses relinquished his post, but refused to leave Italy instead retiring to a villa near
Naples.
The last years of his life are somewhat clouded in suspicion. Many sources at the time say Narses secretly encouraged the invasion of Italy by the
Lombards in
568, in revenge for Justin II's taking away his position. Still, Narses, then 90 offered his services to the emperor again. He was turned down. By the time Narses died, more than half of Italy had fallen into Lombard hands.
*L. H. Fauber,
Narses, Hammer of the Goths: The Life and Times of Narses the Eunuch, St Martins Pr (January 1991) ISBN 0312041268
