DBA Armies

This list covers Ostrogothic armies from the establishment of the Ostrogothic kingdom in Italy by Theodoric the Great after overthrowing Odovacar’s Patrician Roman army (with East Roman connivance), through the Byzantine invasion ordered by Justinian I in 535 (led initially by the brilliant Belisarius and from 551 by the elderly but competent Narses) until the suppression of the last revolt, by which time incessant fighting had ruined Italy. The main Ostrogothic leader in the first half of the Byzantine wars up to 539 was the slow-thinking Wittigis, but from then on the clever Totila. The Ostrogoths formed an armoured mounted nobility superimposed on a remnant Roman organisation. Nobles charged fiercely on horseback, but are often described throwing spears or javelins as well as using shields and swords. Foot were mostly archers. Since these were frightened of Byzantine cavalry, they are classed as Psiloi. Shielded spearmen occasionally mentioned or hinted might have been Rugians or remnants of Odovacar’s army or dismounted nobles. Peasant levies used on one occasion in Lucania were not a success. Burgundian allies sent by the Franks did assist in some battles against the Byzantines; but the Franks themselves were nominally allied to both sides, but helped neither and eventually actually attacked both on their own account. References: Armies of the Dark Ages lan Heath, History of the Wars: The Gothic War Procopius, Lest Darkness Fall L. Sprague de Camp (novel).