How did Byzantium conquer Italy?

Justinian I organized campaigns to re-establish the former Roman Empire and turn the Mediterranean into a Byzantine lake: the Vandal, Ostrogoth, and Visigoth campaigns. The most important of these was the **”Ostrogothic Campaigns”** (535–554).

The Ostrogoths, who possessed a kingdom in Italy, had started feuding over the crown and throne after the death of their king, Theodoric. Justinian I took advantage of this internal turmoil in the Ostrogothic Kingdom and sent his general Belisarius on a campaign to Italy. Belisarius captured the island of Sicily and Naples (536). Another Byzantine army, advancing along the Dalmatian coast, had taken Northern Italy and entered Ravenna, the capital of the Ostrogothic Kingdom.

Later, Totila, who took charge of the Ostrogoths, drove the Byzantines out of Italy. Thereupon, Justinian I sent Narses, known as a great tactician, to Italy. This famous general defeated Totila at the Battle of Busta Gallorum in Umbria in 552, thus regaining all of Italy for Byzantium (554).