"...The joy of harvest time was nothing compared with the glee the Emperor Justinian showed at the news his couriers seemed to be bringing daily. In seven battles his forces had prevailed in all but one. His ancient foe, Persia, along with the persistant Vandals and the Slavic menace were each defeated twice. Only the distant Visigoths seemed immune to defeat, turning back invasions by the emperor's Gepid allies and the barbarian Thuringi..."
Narses Rolls On
With the Persians on the run, Narses decided to push the invasion further into the Sassanid heartland. Descending from the Hiberian Mountains into the rolling hills of Media, he encountered a hastily-levied Persian army. A mounted charge chased them from the field and added another Persian satrapy to Narses' conquests.
Byzantines at the Gates
Riches and plundeer were in the eyes of General Leo's army as it marched upon the Persian capital of Ctesiphon. The only army the King of Kings had to block thier path was of poorly-trained levies, but they fought valiantly. Leo's veteran spearmen finally won theday by driving off the undisciplined attack of the Persian horse. Only Ctesiphon's high walls kept the Byzantines out of the King of King's capital.
Syria Seized
The Persian general Nabedes was far south, mopping up his Arab conquests when word came of the Byzantine invasion. Syria was the closest enemy province, so he rerouted his march through it, smashing a Byzantine army sent to stop him. Time wasvital, so Nabedes disdained siege of Antioch, storming its walls instead and putting the garrison to the sword.
Byzantines Stave Off Retreat
Byzantine forces were also active along the Slavic border, General Basileus crossing with his army into Valeria. A feigned retreat to draw in one flank of the Slav army almost turned into the real thing. Basileus finally mastered the confusion in his ranks, and gripping the reins of his army, dashed it against the Slavic masses, driving them off and establishing control of the province.
Long-Sought Invasion Fatal
Santilaus roared as his his crossed into Byzantine-held Baltica. At last, he'd persuaded the chiefs to invade! Marching along the banks of a dark river, he met a Byzantine army commanded by a newcomer to the frontier, Ambrosius. The young general massed his cavalry onto one wing and smashed through the loose Slavic ranks. Santilaus was trampled trying to rally his men, the leaderless host scattering beneath the trees, hunted by Ambrosius' men all the way to the border.
Vandal Hubris Punished
Flushed with their recent triumphs over the Byzantines, the Vandals in Greece sent a fleet to land on Asia Minor's hilly coast. Their warlord Heleric knew success hinged on the first battle. In Cappodokia, the local Byzantine governor proved so inept a Greek noblewoman named Irene paid the soldiers herself and sparked fire nto their commanders. In high spirits, the Cappodokian army fell upon the Vandals and slaughtered them, slaying or capturing the entire force.
Vandals Expelled From Attica
Hearing of the Vandal disaster in Asia Minor, the Byzantine General Diogenes drove northward into Epirus, hoping to expel them once and for all. The depleted Vandal army was dispirited and offered only weak resistance. In the weeks following their defeat, many once-proud Vandal troopers were auctioned on slave blocks up and down the coast of now securely Byzantine Greece.
Alpine Venture Fails
With his armies busy on three other fronts, Emperor Justinian winked at the Gepid invasion of Italy. Iadoric's Visigoths were ready for them, though, waiting in an Alpine pass. His light foot outflanked the Gepid left, while the hard-riding Visigoth cavalry encircled their right. The Gepid line crumbled and was chased out of the Alps.
Defeat An Unwelcome Marriage Gift
Perhaps the Frisians got wind of Vortigeric's planned invasion, but a marriage alliance with the Thuringi was quickly concluded. So, shortly after crossing the border into Frisia, scouts returned to tell of an unexpected Thuringi attack in Belgica. Vortigeric cursed, turning his army around and riding quickly to meet the invaders. The Visigoths burst upon the Thuringi army unexpectedly and routed them completely, chasing them back to their borders.
Last Homeland Reconquered
Fully recovered from their year of lethargy, the Visigoths marched on Narbo, attempting to root the Basques out of the last of their homelands. The warlord Vigdonic massed his cavalry on the right, but the lightly-armed Basques kept to the woods and hills. In the center, though, they swarmed his infantry, punching through and threatening the Visigoth left. Vigdonic's left wing hurled them back from their hilltop anchor, and when the cavalry showed up to threaten the Basque rear, the tribesmen fled the field.