Totila sends part of his troops to attack Florence following his success at Faventia.
Justin, the imperial commander of Florence, had neglected to adequately provision the city against a siege, and hurriedly sends for aid to the other imperial commanders in the area: John, Bessas and Cyprian.
They gather their forces and come to the relief of Florence.
At their approach, the Goths raise the siege and retreat north, to the region of Mucellium (modern Mugello).
The imperial army pursues them, with John and his troops leading the chase and the rest of the army following behind.
Suddenly, the Goths rush upon John's men from the top of a hill.
The advance troops initially hold, but a rumor soon spreads that their general had fallen, and they break and flee towards the oncoming main imperial force.
Their panic, however, is caught by the latter as well, and the entire imperial army disperses in disorder.
The Goths take many captives, who are treated well and even induced to join the Gothic army, while the imperial generals flee to isolated strongholds (Bessas to Spoleto, Justin back to Florence, Cyprian to Perugia and John to Rome), and henceforth fail to cooperate against the Goths.
