Naples, Siege of
Years: 542 - 543
The Siege of Naples is a successful siege of Naples by the Ostrogothic leader Totila in 542–543.
After crushing the Byzantine armies at Faventia and Mucellium, Totila marches south towards Naples, held by the general Conon with 1,000 men.
A large-scale relief effort by the newly appointed magister militum Demetrius from Sicily is intercepted and almost entirely destroyed by Gothic warships.
A second effort, again under Demetrius, likewise fails when strong winds force the fleet's vessels to beach, where they are attacked and overcome by the Gothic army.
Knowing the dire situation of the city's defenders, Totila promises the garrison safe passage if they surrender.
Pressed by famine and demoralized by the failure of the relief efforts, Conon accepts, and in late March or early April 543, Naples surrenders.
The defenders are well treated by Totila, and the Byzantine garrison is allowed safe departure, but the city walls are partly razed.
