"...Persia had fallen: The land of Cyrus, Xerxes and Darius -- Rome's enemy for centuries -- was no more. Their last outpost in the southern deserts, along with the great city of Antioch, both succumbed to Narses' forces as Winter swept through the Mediterranean. Byzantine armies were marching westward, too. One snaked through the Baltic forests while an imperial fleet landed another on the shores of Vandal Sicily. Justinian's allies, the Gepids, also rode to war against the Vandals on his behalf in Dalmatia. The main Vandal force in that province disappeared northwards, though, heading into the hills of Gepid-ruled Pannonia. In the foothills of the Alps, the Spanish Visigoths galloped to Liguria to reclaim it from their Gallic rivals. The Visigoths of Gaul, meanwhile, doubled back to attack the Frisians...."
Persia Swept Away
The Persian satrap Phabrizes, last hope of the King of Kings, advanced upon the Byzantine army in full battle array. His left and center began to shove the enemy back, when the right wing collapsed. His center, led by the last of the Persian war elephants, was taken in the flank and routed. Victory was lost to the wind and the Sassanid Empire crumbled into dust.
More Slavic Forests Fall
General Ambrosius rode down along the marching column, exhorting them. "No more skirmishes," he called. "The emperor is committed to conquest: The Slavs will surrender or be driven out!" The soldiers cheered, then days later shouted even louder as they smashed the scattered forces of the Slav warlord Piastes and added the forest of Baltica to Justinian's dominions.
Invasion Dissolves with Charge
General Symmachus eyed the Vandal troopers on the rise across the battlefield. They did not look like idle garrison troops, as the reports stated. Shrugging, he waved the cavalry forward, determined to press on with the invasion of Sicily. The two battlelines collided at the bottom of a gentle hill, and Justinian's reports were proven gravely wrong. All along the line, the Byzantine cavalry was overthrown and spilled from their saddles. Symmachus invasion dissolved into a rout, his army hunted down by the Vandal troopers.
Gepids Seize Byzantine Offer
The Gepid warchief Thorisin knew the Byzantines had been good to his people. Now, they offered the rich coast of Dalmatia if they could win it from the Vandal foes. However, when his army met the Vandals in Dalmatia, he was confused -- it should have been much larger and better armed. As his veterans cut the enemy to pieces, Thorisin wondered where the main Vandal force had gone.
Vandals Raid North
The object of Thorisin's musing was riding hard north into Gepid Pannonia. The local chief, Vittigus, hastily assembled a force to oppose them, but was overrun by the war-hardened Vandal expedition. It was uncertain to the hapless Gepid villagers if the Vandals intended to hold this pocket of land -- surrounded by foes -- or whether this was merely a raid for plunder.
Strategic Land Reclaimed
King Thordoric was not ready to surrender strategic Liguria. He sent his best general, Vigdonic, with his most highly trained troopers, to regain it. The paltry garrison force left stood no chance and were swept away, despite putting up a bitter fight. The foothills of the Alps were his again, giving him access to Italy and across the passes into Central Europe.
Frisian Grab Retaken
While civil war had made the Visigoths of Gaul had turn their back, the Frisians had seized the rich farmlands of Belgica. The Visigoth warlord Handoric marched his army north to reclaim it. Upon spotting the Frisian warband strung out in line, Handoric ordered an immediate charge. As the two lines neared, a Frisian flanking force drove towards his open left flank. Handoric spurred his troopers on, bursting through the center before the flank attack could cause much chaos. The Frisians recoiled, but not before leaving too many Visigothic dead on the field for Handoric.