TOTILA (d. 552), king of the Ostrogoths, was chosen king after the death of his uncle Ildibad in 541, his real name being, as is seen from the coinage issued by him, Baduila. At the beginning of his reign, he collected together and inspired the Goths to win a victory over the troops of the emperor Justinian, near Faenza. Having gained another victory in 542, in the valley of Mugello, he left Tuscany for Naples, captured that city, and then received the submission of the provinces of Lucania, Apulia and Calabria. Totila's conquest of Italy was marked not only by celerity but also by mercy. Towards the end of 545 the Gothic king prepared to starve Rome into surrender, making at the same time elaborate preparations for checking the progress of Belisarius who was advancing to its relief. The Imperial fleet only just failed to succour the city, which was plundered by Totila. Its walls and other fortifications, however, were soon restored, and Totila again marching against it was defeated by Belisarius, who, however, did not follow up his advantage. Several cities
were taken by the Goths, while Belisarius remained inactive and then left Italy, and in 549 Totila advanced a third time against Rome, which he captured through the treachery of some of its defenders. His next exploit was the conquest of Sicily, after which he subdued Corsica and Sardinia and sent a fleet against the coasts of Greece. Justinian, thereupon entrusted the conduct of a new campaign to the eunuch Narses, who defeated and killed Totila at the battle of Taginae (q.v.) in July 552.
See E. Gibbon, Decline and Fall, ed. by J. B. Bury (1898), vol. iv.; T. Hodgkin, Italy and her Invaders (1896), vol. iv. and Kampfner, Totila, Konig der Ostgoten (1889).