BELISARIUS.
The imperial administration was established through Italy, but its rapacity soon began to excite discontent, and the kernel of the Gothic nation had not submitted. After two short and unfortunate reigns, the crown had been bestowed on Totila or Baduila, a war rior of distinguished abilities, who by degrees drove the imperial generals and governors out of Italy. Belisarius was sent against him, but with forces too small for the gravity of the situation. He moved from place to place during several years, but saw city after city captured by or open its gates to Totila, till only Ravenna, Otranto and Ancona remained. Justinian was occupied by the ecclesiastical controversy of the Three Chapters, and had not the money to fit out a proper army and fleet. It was not until 552 that re-conquest was attempted In that year a powerful army was despatched under Narses. Under him the Goths were com pletely defeated at Taginae and the Mons Lactarius, and Italy was annexed. (See NARSES.) But it was an Italy terribly impoverished and depopulated, whose possession carried little strength with it. Justinian's policy both in the Vandalic and in the Gothic War stands condemned by the result. The resources of the state, which might better have been spent in defending the frontiers of the empire, were consumed in the conquest of two countries which had suffered too much to be of any substantial value, and which could not be permanently retained. However, Justinian must have been almost preternaturally wise to have foreseen this : his conduct was in the circumstances only what might have been expected from an ambitious prince who perceived an opportunity of recovering territories that had formerly belonged to the empire, and over which its rights were conceived to be only suspended.
Besides these three great foreign wars, Justinian's reign was troubled by a constant succession of border inroads, especially on the northern frontier. Immense damage was inflicted by Slavonic and Hunnish marauders; and on one occasion the capital was itself in danger.
5. Personal Character.—Regarding Justinian's personal char acter and capacities a great diversity of opinion has existed among historians. The difficulty of arriving at a fair conclusion is in creased by the fact that Procopius, our principal contemporary authority, speaks with a very different voice in his secret memoirs (the Anecdota) from that which he has used in his published his tory, and that some of the accusations contained in the former work are so rancorous and improbable that a certain measure of discredit attaches to everything which it contains.
The truth seems to be that Justinian was not a great ruler in the higher sense of the word, that is to say, a man of large views, deep insight, a capacity for forming just such plans as the cir cumstances needed, and carrying them out by a skilful adaptation of means to ends. But he was a man of considerable abilities, won derful activity of mind and admirable industry. He was interested in many things, and threw himself with ardour into whatever he took up; he contrived schemes quickly, and pushed them on with an energy which usually made them succeed when no long time was needed, for, if a project was delayed, there was a risk of his tiring of it and dropping it. Although vain and full of self. confidence, he was easily led by those who knew how to get at him.
Justinian was quick rather than strong or profound; his policy does not strike one as the result of deliberate and well-considered views, but dictated by the hopes and fancies of the moment. His activity was in so far a misfortune as it led him to attempt too many things at once, and engage in undertakings so costly that oppression became necessary to provide the funds for them. Even his devotion to work, which excites our admiration, in the centre of a luxurious court, was to a great extent unprofitable, for it was mainly given to theological controversies which neither he nor any one else could settle.