Belisarius

Flavius Belisarius (505-565) was one of the greatest generals of the Byzantine Empire. Of the great generals of history, Belisarius is not particularly well known today (certainly nowhere as near as well-known as Julius Caesar, or Alexander the Great), but this is due more to a lack of attention to Byzantine history than to his skill and accomplishments, which were matched by few, if any, military commanders.

Belisarius in fiction

Belisarius was featured in several works of art before the 20th century. The oldest of them is the historical treatise by his very own secretary, Procopius, the Anecdota, commonly referred to as the Arcana Historia or Secret History. Later works include the 17th century poem by Friedrich de la Motte Fouque, Beliar, the John Oldmixon drama The life and history of Belisarius, who conquer'd Africa and Italy, with an account of his disgrace, the ingratitude of the Romans, and a parallel between him and a modern hero, the 18th century drama by William Philips Belasarius (1724), the novel Belisarius by John Downman (1742), the novel Bélisaire by Jean-François Marmontel (1767), and the 19th century opera, Belisario, by Gaetano Donizetti.

Related Topics:
20th century - Procopius - 17th century - Poem - Friedrich de la Motte Fouque - John Oldmixon - Drama - 18th century - William Philips - 1724 - Novel - John Downman - 1742 - Jean-François Marmontel - 1767 - 19th century - Opera - Belisario - Gaetano Donizetti

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The life of Belisarius was the subject of the historical novel Count Belisarius (1938) by noted classical scholar Robert Graves. This book, ostensibly written from the viewpoint of the eunuch Eugenius, servant to Belisarius' wife (but actually based on the history by Belisarius' former secretary Procopius), portrays Belisarius as a solitary honorable man in a corrupt world, and paints a vivid picture of not only his startling military feats but also the colorful characters and events of his day (such as the savage Hippodrome politics of the Constantinople chariot races, which regularly escalated to open street battles between fans of opposing factions, or the intrigue between the emperor Justinian and the empress Theodora).

Related Topics:
Count Belisarius - 1938 - Robert Graves - Procopius - Hippodrome - Theodora

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Belisarius appears in the famous alternate history novel Lest Darkness Fall (1939) by L. Sprague de Camp. There he was first the Byzantine opponent of the time traveler Martin Padway who tried to spread modern science and inventions in Gothic Italy. Eventually Belisarius became general in Padway's army and secured Italy for him.

Related Topics:
Lest Darkness Fall - 1939 - L. Sprague de Camp - Time travel - Martin Padway - Science

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Belisarius is also the main character of the Belisarius series of science fiction novels by Eric Flint and David Drake, an alternate history exploring what might have happened if Belisarius (and a rival) were granted knowledge of future events and technologies.

Related Topics:
Belisarius series - Science fiction - Eric Flint - David Drake - Alternate history

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In the General series of military science fiction novels by S.M. Stirling and David Drake, the plot draws much from the life and campaigns of Belisarius; the main character, Raj Whitehall, sets out to reunite the planet of Bellevue after the fall of galactic civilization.

Related Topics:
The General series - Military science fiction - S.M. Stirling - David Drake - Raj Whitehall - Bellevue - Galactic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Isaac Asimov, who was very familiar with Roman history, seems to have loosely based the character and name of General Bel Riose, "The Last Great General" of the late Galactic Empire in the Foundation Series, on Belisarius.

Related Topics:
Isaac Asimov - Roman history - Bel Riose - Galactic Empire - Foundation Series

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~