The Failure at Milan

The insubordination of John the Sanguinary that led to the division in the Byzantine army between the divisions commanded by Belisarius and those commanded by Narses created further problems. The Siege of Milan was one example.Then called Mediolanum, it was the second wealthiest city in Italy after Rome. Archbishop Dainties of Milan sent messages to Belisarius, welcoming him to come and free them from Ostrogothic rule. Belisarius sent a force of 1000 men to secure it under a man named Mundilas. After occupying Milan, the soldiers spread out to secure the smaller towns and forts.King Vitiges of the Ostrogoths then sent for help from the Franks (although Byzantine Emperor Justinian had sent gifts to the Franks to get them to stay out of the conflict). A force of 10,000 Burgundians responded, surrounding Milan. (They were sent by Theudebert I, son of Theuderic I, who later explained to the emperor that, since they were Burgundians and not Franks, he had no control over them.) Since the…