"...Although it was Justinian's dream to reconquer the Western Empire, it was in the East he was having the most success. His armies tightened their siege of the Persian capital, Ctesiphon, and advanced upon the kingdom's two remaining possessions. Even Persia's friends, the Alans, fell under Byzantine attack. Justinian also felt the Vandals' seaborne raids on the coast of Greece had become enough of a nuissance to launch his own invasion of their North African heartland. A Berber uprising followed the Byzantine landing, but it is uncertain whether imperial gold sparked it. Justinian's agents were busy on the far side of the Mediterranean, bribing the Basques to raid Visigothic Narbo. Meanwhile, the emperor's Gepid allies mustered to try and wrest the key Alpine passes from the Visigoths. And finally, the Slavs sensed weakness in the recently-defeated Thuringi and sprang southward to take advantage of it..."
Ctesiphon Falls
After nine months of siege, the capital of the Persian King of Kings fell to its Byzantine besiegers. Zoroastrian temples dedicated to the sacred fire were consumed in flames as the soldiers vented their frustration in looting and destruction. The King of Kings was never found, though, and it is rumored he slipped out sometime during the siege.
Desert Strike Shattered
Far from being demoralized by their capital's fall, the Persians in the deserts of
Al-Nafud burned for revenge. When Leo's Byzantine army struck out across the sands to seize this outpost of Persia, the defenders hurled themselves upon the invaders. They burst through Leo's center before his reinforced right wing could close, slaying Leo himself. Split in two by the armored Persian cavalry, the Byzantines scattered and were hunted across the sands.
Byzantines Trampled in Syria
Stung into action by news of Ctesiphon's fall, the last great Persian army marched south. They met a huge army under Narses' trusted lieutenant, Martinus, on the Syrian border. The Persian general Nabedes clucked in mock disaproval when he saw the Byzantine cavalry mass opposite his right wing. Nabedes hurled his larger cavalry force, spearheaded by elephants, at the Byzantines, driving them from the field. The Byzantine center exposed by their left's retreat, fled, and the Byzantine reconquest of Syria faltered before it had begun.
Alan Nation Falls
The Alans had a long history of raiding their Byzantine and Persian neighbors. However, it was their recent peace with Persia that doomed them. General Julian led a small, well-drilled army into the steppes and scattered the lightly-armed Alan horsemen. He quickly occupied the kingdom and the Alan's centuries of independence ended.
War Brought to Africa
The Byzantines had had enough of two years of Vandal raids on Greece. General Heraclius landed on the African coast and marched upon the main garrison of Tripolitania. The warlord Gaelaseric hastily drafted reinforcements and met the Byzantines outside the walls of his fortress. His men were driven back on all fronts, and the Byzantine light cavalry harried them till they fled the province, abandoning it to Heraclius.
Berbers Rise
Upon hearing of the Vandal defeat, the Berber chieftain Juba cast off his tribe's submission and raised the province of Tingintania in revolt. He overwhelmed isolated garrisons and seized arms, until the local Vandal warlord collected a force and met him in battle. Juba proved an able tactician as well as inspirational leader, beating Gunthamund's Vandals and chasing them from the province.
Collision in the Hills
Two hosts of horsemen feared throughout Europe collided on a short, hilly plain in the Venetian Alps. The Gepids, led by the warlord Elemendus, were seeking to break out of hilly Central Europe and into Gaul's farmlands, while Iadoric's Visigoths strove to hold the eastern bastion of his people's conquests. Both warlords were wounded in the wild, swirling melee, but the Gepids seized the upper hand. Iadoric's men were driven into dead-end passes and slaughtered, while their harried general perished of his injuries.
Last of Thuringi Bend Knee
With hostile kingdoms all around, the iron will and vigilance of the Thuringi warlord Hermenefridas was all the kept his people free. Rumors of Hermenefridas defeated invasion of the Visigoths reached the Slav chieftain Kawalskus, who brought his tribesmen south through the forests to try again to seize Raetia. The weakened Thuringi army fought bravely, but was swarmed over by the nimble Slavs. Hermenefridas and the Thuringi lords were forced to bend knee, and acknowledge the Slavs as their overlords.
Visigoths Turn Back Raid
Proving the Basque inability to resist Byzantine gold, the Basque chief Andaronix led a huge raiding party into Visigothic Narbo, again. This time, the Vandal warlord Vigdonic was ready. The Visigothic horseman proved his superioriity to lightly-armed Basque infantryman on the plains, yet again. The Basques were driven back into the safety of their hills, with only gold to salve their wounds.