Justinian's plans to send expeditionary forces against the Ostrogoths in Italy are repeatedly hampered by the initiatives of Thurisind, King of the Gepids.

For example, Narses' army leaves Constantinople in April 551 for Salona, with hopes of finally defeating the Goths, but finds itself blocked at Philippopolis (Plovdiv) by the Kutrigurs.

This brings Justinian to search for an accord with Thurisind to stop the trans-Danubian raids, and the latter is more than happy to accept.

Thurisind's envoys ask or an alliance like the one bonding Constantinople and the Lombards.

In addition to strengthening the alliance, they demand, and receive, twelve senators to swear to uphold the treaty.

After this, in 551, four hundred Gepids are sent to fight in Narses' army, which is sent to Italy—a modest army compared to the fifty-five hundred Lombards sent by Audoin and the thousands of Heruli.