Editing 537 (section)

==== Byzantine Empire ====
* [[March 2]] &ndash; [[Siege of Rome (537–538)|Siege of Rome]]: The [[Ostrogoths|Ostrogothic]] army (45,000 men) under King [[Vitiges]] begins the [[siege]] of the city. [[Belisarius]] conducts a delaying action outside the [[Piazza del Popolo|Flaminian Gate]]; he and a detachment of his ''[[Bucellarius|bucellarii]]'' are almost cut off.<ref>Bury (1923), Ch. XIX, p. 182–183</ref>
* Vitiges sets up seven camps, overlooking the main gates and access routes to the city, in order to starve it out. He blocks the [[Roman aqueduct]]s that are supplying [[Rome]] with water, necessary both for drinking and for operating the [[Gristmill|corn mills]].<ref>Bury (1923), Ch. XIX, p. 185</ref>
* [[March 21]] &ndash; Vitiges attempts to assault the northern and eastern [[Aurelian Walls|city walls]] with four [[siege tower]]s, but is repulsed at the [[Porta Maggiore|Praenestine Gate]], known as the ''[[Vivarium (Rome)|Vivarium]]'', by the defenders under the Byzantine generals [[Bessas (magister militum)|Bessas]] and [[Peranius]].<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' I.XXIII</ref>
* [[April]] &ndash; The Goths capture the ''[[Portus|Portus Claudii]]'' at [[Ostia Antica|Ostia]]; the harbor is left unguarded by the Romans. Belisarius is forced to unload his supplies at [[Antium]]; he sends urgent messages for reinforcements to [[Constantinople]].<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' I.XXVII</ref>
* [[April 9]] &ndash; Belisarius receives his promised reinforcements: 1,600 cavalry, mostly of [[Huns|Hunnic]] or [[Slavic peoples|Slavic]] origin and expert [[Archery|bowmen]]. Despite shortages, he starts raids against the Gothic camps and Vitiges is forced into a stalemate.<ref>Bury (1923), Ch. XIX, p. 188</ref> 
* [[June]] &ndash; In Rome, [[famine]] brings the city to despair; Belisarius sends his secretary [[Procopius]] to [[Naples]] for more reinforcements and supplies. Vitiges arranges a three-month [[armistice]] for Gothic envoys to travel to Constantinople.<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' II.VI</ref>
* [[November]] &ndash; Belisarius brings his long-awaited reinforcements, namely 3,000 [[Isauria]]ns and 1,800 cavalry embarked in Ostia, along with a supply convoy, safely to Rome. The Goths are forced to abandon the ''Portus Claudii''.<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'' II.V</ref>
* [[December]] &ndash; Belisarius sends [[John (nephew of Vitalian)|John "the Sanguinary"]] with a force of 2,000 men towards [[Picenum]], to plunder the east coast of [[Italy]]. He arrives at Ariminum ([[Rimini]]), where he is welcomed by the local Roman population.<ref>Procopius, ''De Bello Gothico'', II.VII</ref>   
* [[December 27]] &ndash; The construction of the [[Hagia Sophia]] in [[Constantinople]] (begun in [[532]]) is completed.