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Narses ( 478- 573) was one of the two great generals in the service of the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian I during the so-called "Reconquest" that took place during his reign.

Narses spent most of his life as a relatively unimportant eunuch in the place of the emperors in Constantinople, but when Justinian became emperor in 527, historical events conspired to make him famous.

He was 74 years old in 552, when the ever-suspicious Justinian recalled Belisarius from his campaign against the Ostrogoths in Italy and replaced him with Narses. Despite his age, he proved to be just as energetic and skilled as his predecessor. He launched yet another campaign against the Ostrogoths, finally defeating their formidable King Baduila at the Battle of Taginae. In 553Events The Ostrogoth Kingdom is conquered by the Byzantines after the Battle of Mons Lactarius. The Fifth Ecumenical Council is held. King Seong of Baekje attacks Goguryeo and Silla. Births Deaths Gelimer, last King of the Vandals and Alans 553. he defeated the remnants of the Ostrogoth army at the Battle of Mons LactariusThe Battle of Mons Lactarius took place in 553 during the wars of Justinian I against the Ostrogoths in Italy. After the Battle of Busta Gallorum, in which the Ostrogoth king Totila was killed, the Byzantine general Narses captured Rome and besieged Cumae. In 554Events The Byzantine general Narses reconquers all of Italy. Byzantine forces seize Granada and Andalusia from the Visigoths. Athangild succeeds Agil as king of the Visigoths. Western Wei Gong Di succeeds Western Wei Fei Di as ruler of the Chinese Western, he drove the FranksCharlemagne or Karl der Grosse ( Charles the Great) in Frankfurt The Franks formed one of several west Germanic tribes who entered the late Roman Empire from Frisia as foederati and established a lasting realm in an area that covers part of today's France and AlamanniThe Alamanni or Allemanni or Alemanni are a Germanic tribe, first mentioned by Dio Cassius, under the year 213. They apparently dwelt in the basin of the Main River, to the south of the Chatti. According to Asinius Quadratus their name "all men" indicates, who had come to help the Ostrogoths, back over the AlpsThe Alps is the collective name for one of the great mountain range systems of Europe, stretching from Austria in the east, Slovenia, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and Germany, through to France in the west. The highest mountain in the Alps is the Mon. Eventually, the surviving Ostrogoths surrendered to him, and Italy was restored to the empire.

Narses remained in Italy as its prefect (governor), but his administration was unpopular. After Justinian's death, his son Justin IIJustin II the Byzantine emperor from 565 to 578, was the nephew and successor of Justinian I. He availed himself of his influence as master of the palace, and as husband of Sophia, the niece of the late empress Theodora, to secure a peaceful election. removed him as prefect and demanded he return to Constantinople. Narses relinquished his post, but refused to leave Italy, instead retiring to a villa near NaplesAlternate uses: See Naples (disambiguation Naples ( Italian Napoli Neapolitan Napule from Greek Neapolis/) is the largest town in southern Italy, capital of the region of Campania. The city has a population of about 1 million, and together with its suburb.

The last years of his life are somewhat clouded in suspicion. Many sources at the time say Narses secretly encouraged the invasion of Italy by the Lombards in 568, in revenge for Justin II's taking away his position. Still, Narses, then 90 years old, offered his services to the emperor once more. He was turned down. By the time Narses died, more than half of Italy had fallen into Lombard hands.