prophecy of an eastern bishop
induced him to persevere.

*The reconquest of Africa, 533-4 A. D.* The landing of Belisarius in
Africa (September, 533) completely surprised the Vandals. Gailimer was
defeated in battle and Belisarius occupied Carthage. A second defeat
before the close of the year sealed the fate of the Vandal kingdom. Early
in 534 Gailimer surrendered and all resistance came to an end. The Vandal
insular possessions--Sardinia, Corsica and the Balearic Islands--fell to the
Romans without further opposition.

*Revolts of the Moors.* However, the Moors, who had managed to assert
their independence against the Vandals, were not disposed to pass under
the Roman yoke without a struggle. A revolt which broke out in 535 was not
finally crushed until 539; and another, which was complicated by a mutiny
of the imperial troops, raged between 546 and 548. In the end, the Roman
authority was reestablished over all the African provinces except
Mauretania Caesariensis and Tingitana. The previous system of civil
administration was revived and elaborate measures taken to secure the
defence of the frontiers. However, the ravages of the Moors and the war of
restoration had played sad havoc with economic conditions in Africa, and
in spite of government assistance, its former prosperity was never
revived. Still, Africa had been recovered for the empire and was destined
to remain a part of it until the Saracen invasion nearly a century and a
half later.

*The recovery of Italy, first phase, 535-540 A. D.* The overthrow of the
Vandal kingdom had scarcely been accomplished when events in Italy gave
Justinian the desired pretext for the invasion of the peninsula. Upon the
death of King Athalaric, Theoderic's grandson and successor, in 534, his
mother, the regent Amalasuntha, had married Theodahad, whom she made her
consort. Shortly afterwards, however, he caused her to be imprisoned and,
when she appealed to Justinian for aid, put her to death. As the avenger
of his former ally, Justinian made war upon the Gothic king. The
possession of Africa gave the Romans an excellent base of operations
against Italy. In 535 Belisarius invaded Sicily with 7500 men and speedily
reduced the whole island, while another Roman army marched on Dalmatia.
From Sicily Belisarius crossed into South Italy, where he found little
resistance. The inactivity of Theodahad produced a revolt among his own
people. He was deposed, and Witiges became king in his