Atlas of Battles

siege, major, medieval

Siege of Rome

Siege of Rome was a siege conducted on 2 March AD 537 at Rome, in what is now Italy; it lasted 12 months. It was part of the Gothic War of 535–554, which ran from AD 535 to AD 554. The recorded result: Byzantine victory. Recorded strength: 5,000 men; 5,600 reinforcements; unknown number of conscripts; Hunnic mercenaries against Larger force.

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The Walls and Gates of Rome in the 6th century, incl. the Gothic camps from the Siege of Rome 537-538
The Walls and Gates of Rome in the 6th century, incl. the Gothic camps from the Siege of Rome 537-538. Edward Stanford, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought2 March AD 537lasted 12 months
WhereRome, Italy41.900N, 12.500E
OutcomeByzantine victory
BelligerentsByzantine EmpireagainstOstrogothic Kingdom
Part ofGothic War of 535–554AD 535 to AD 554

Where it sits in the Gothic War of 535–554

Siege of Panormus, AD 535Siege of Naples, AD 536Siege of Rome, AD 537Siege of Urbinus, AD 538Siege of Ariminum, AD 538Siege of Milan, AD 538Siege of Ravenna, AD 539Siege of Auximus, AD 539Siege of Verona, AD 541Battle of Treviso, AD 541Battle of Faventia, AD 542Battle of Mucellium, AD 542Siege of Naples, AD 542Sack of Rome, AD 546Siege of Rossano, AD 548Siege of Rome, AD 549Battle of Sena Gallica, AD 551Battle of Taginae, AD 552Siege of Cumae, AD 552Battle of Mons Lactarius, AD 552Battle of the Volturnus, AD 554AD 535AD 554Siege of Rome, AD 537
22 placed engagements of the Gothic War of 535–554 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date2 March AD 537
to 12 March AD 538
PlaceRome, Italy
41.900N, 12.500E
KindSiege, medieval
Territorial changeByzantines captured and successfully defended Rome
Strength5,000 men; 5,600 reinforcements; unknown number of conscripts; Hunnic mercenariesLarger force
Commanders
  • Vitiges
Siege of RomeSiege of RomeBattle of the Colline GateSiege of the Capitoline HillSack of RomeSiege of RomeSiege of RomeSiege of the Capitoline HillNaplesPescaraPerugiaL'AquilaCivitavecchiaCasertaCampobasso100 km41.900N, 12.500E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 16 times between 476 BC and 1943.

In the same war

Siege of Rome is one of 72 engagements of the 6th century in the atlas and one of 626 in present-day Italy.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1834148, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Rome (537–538), revision 1381232527, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.