The
Gothic War between the
Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Empire and the
Ostrogothic Kingdom of Italy was fought from 535 until 554 in
Italy,
Dalmatia,
Sardinia,
Sicily and
Corsica. It is commonly divided into two phases. The first phase lasted from 535 to 540 and ended with the fall of the Ostrogothic capital of
Ravenna and the apparent reconquest of Italy by the Byzantines. During the second phase (540/541–553), the Goths' resistance was reinvigorated under
Totila and put down only after a long struggle by
Narses, who also repelled the 554 invasion by the
Franks and
Alamanni. In the same year, Justinian promulgated the
Pragmatic Sanction which prescribed Italy's new government. Several cities in northern Italy continued to hold out, however, until the early 560s.