Atlas of Battles

siege, major, medieval

Siege of Rome

Siege of Rome was a siege conducted on 2 March AD 537 at Rome, in what is now Italy; it lasted 12 months. It was part of the Gothic War of 535–554, which ran from AD 535 to AD 554. The recorded result: Byzantine victory. Recorded strength: 5,000 men; 5,600 reinforcements; unknown number of conscripts; Hunnic mercenaries against Larger force.

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The Walls and Gates of Rome in the 6th century, incl. the Gothic camps from the Siege of Rome 537-538
The Walls and Gates of Rome in the 6th century, incl. the Gothic camps from the Siege of Rome 537-538. Edward Stanford, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons.
Fought2 March AD 537lasted 12 months
WhereRome, Italy41.900N, 12.500E
OutcomeByzantine victory
BelligerentsByzantine EmpireagainstOstrogothic Kingdom
Part ofGothic War of 535–554AD 535 to AD 554

Where it sits in the Gothic War of 535–554

Battle of Scardon, AD 535Siege of Panormus, AD 535Siege of Naples, AD 536Siege of Rome, AD 537Siege of Urbinus, AD 538Battle of Pavia, AD 538Siege of Ariminum, AD 538Siege of Milan, AD 538Siege of Ravenna, AD 539Siege of Auximus, AD 539Siege of Verona, AD 541Battle of Treviso, AD 541Battle of Faventia, AD 542Battle of Mucellium, AD 542Siege of Naples, AD 542Sack of Rome, AD 546Siege of Rossano, AD 548Siege of Rome, AD 549Battle of Sena Gallica, AD 551Battle of Taginae, AD 552Siege of Cumae, AD 552Battle of Mons Lactarius, AD 552Siege of Urviventus, AD 553Battle of the Volturnus, AD 554AD 535AD 554Siege of Rome, AD 537
25 placed engagements of the Gothic War of 535–554 in time order; taller ticks are more widely documented. Each tick is a link.

Record

Date2 March AD 537
to 12 March AD 538
PlaceRome, Italy
41.900N, 12.500E
KindSiege, medieval
Territorial changeByzantines captured and successfully defended Rome
Strength5,000 men; 5,600 reinforcements; unknown number of conscripts; Hunnic mercenariesLarger force
Commanders
  • Vitiges
Siege of RomeSiege of RomeHannibal's raid to RomeBattle of the Colline GateVia Rasella attackSiege of the Capitoline HillBombing of Rome in World War IIHannibal's raid to RomeNaplesPescaraPerugiaL'AquilaCivitavecchiaCasertaCampobasso100 km41.900N, 12.500E
The recorded site, with the nearest other engagements in the atlas. Present-day coastlines, rivers and borders; towns from Natural Earth.

The ground today

Relief of the ground around the site of Siege of Rome
Relief within about 10.0 km of the site, contours every 10 m. Copernicus DEM GLO-30, ESA.
Satellite view of the site of Siege of Rome today
The same ground from Sentinel-2 on 2023-08-23. Contains modified Copernicus Sentinel data 2023.

The recorded site stands at about 50 m; within 10.0 km the ground runs from 2 to 147 m, 145 m of relief, gently rolling country and today it is 74% built-up, 23% tree cover.

built-up: 74%tree cover: 23%built-up 74%tree cover 23%
west to east, 10.0 km6 to 82 mnorth to south, 10.0 km8 to 78 m
Elevation from the Copernicus DEM GLO-30 (ESA, Airbus); land cover from ESA WorldCover 2021 (CC BY 4.0), within about 5 km of the recorded site. Computed, not recorded.

Nearest engagements

Contested ground: this site was fought over 21 times between 476 BC and 1944.

In the same war

Elsewhere in AD 537

Siege of Rome is one of 128 engagements of the 6th century in the atlas and one of 1,038 in present-day Italy.

Sources

Identity, coordinates, dates and the war from Wikidata Q1834148, released under CC0. Result, belligerents, commanders, strength and casualties from the infobox of the English Wikipedia article Siege of Rome (537–538), revision 1381232527, read 2026-11-14, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0; the article's text is not reproduced here. Present-day country and state from Natural Earth. Dates before 1582 follow the Julian calendar as recorded.