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In the year 536 AD, the fate of the Ostrogoth Kingdom hung in the balance. The Byzantine army, led by the cunning general Belisarius, was making steady progress towards achieving Augustus Justinian’s vision for reclaiming Italy. Meanwhile, the death of Theodahad, the ineffectual king deposed by a disaffected Ostrogoth aristocracy, left a power vaccum that was quickly filled by a new monarch, Witigis (? – 542 AD).
Even though Witigis was not of royal blood, his selection as the new King of the Ostrogoths made sense. After all, Witigis was a seasoned general and a respected figure among the Ostrogoth nobility. Given the dire situation at the time, his ascension provided hope for restoring the kingdom's fortunes and repelling the encroaching Byzantine threat.
According to ancient historian Procopius, Witigis’ first action as King was to depart from Rome to Ravenna to marry Matasuntha, daughter of former queen regent Amalasuintha and granddaughter of Theoderic the Great. With his choice of bride, Witigis sought to legitimize his new post with a tie to Theoderic’s line.
Witigis further sought to solidiy his position and rally his people by striking coins. This half siliqua, struck in Ravenna circa 536-538 AD, is a testament to his efforts. The coin's design reflects Witigis' determination to establish a new era for the Ostrogoths. The obverse of the coin features a pearl-diademed and mantled bust facing right, a traditional Roman motif that had been adopted by the Ostrogoths. The inscription, DN IVSTINI ANVS PF AVG, identifies the figure as Justinian I. Although this portrayal is intriguing given the ongoing war, presumably it was deliberate, following in the tradition of coinage of previous Ostrogoth monarchs since Theoderic himself. The reverse of the coin bears the inscription DN / VVIT / ICES / REX, which translates to "Our Lord King Witigis." This inscription is encircled by a wreath, symbolizing victory and triumph. Witigis' choice to include his name on the coin while maintaining Justinian’s of the other side of the flan was a bold statement. Perhaps Witigis sought to achieve a power balance, or perhaps he simply wanted to advertise his authority as King, co-existing with, but not a puppet of, the Byzantine Empire. In any case, the coin’s design curiously associates Witigis with his powerful eastern counterpart.
Despite Witigis' considerable efforts, the tide of the Gothic War eventually turned against him. In 537 AD, Witigis departed Ravenna to return to Rome, only to find the Eternal City captured and occupied by Belisarius’ forces. Witigis besieged his own former city, highlighted by gambits to cut off Rome’s food and water supplies, and ingenious countermeasures thereof, not to mention a series of epic back-and-forth battles. Overall, the Siege of Rome lasted 374 days (and a wealth of fascinating details can be found in the ancient reference written by Procopius as cited below).
Recognizing the futility of his situation, Witigis retreated from Rome to northern Italy. Now the Byzantines held the momentum, and by early 540 AD the entirety of Ostrogoth territory was limited to only the stronghold of Ravenna. Now it was Belisarius’ turn to hold a prolonged siege, and Witigis’ turn to suffer fatigue and famine.
In the end, Witigis had no choice but to abdicate. Belisarius entered Ravenna, and he proceeded to seize Witigis, his wife Matasuntha, and much of what remained of the treasures of the Ostrogoth Kingdom. Presumably, Witigis lived out the rest of his life in Constantinople as a war trophy of the Byzantine Empire, and his final fate remains uncertain.
Additional Reading:
De Bello Gothico (On the Gothic War), comprising the final four books of
De Bellis (On the Wars), Procopius, circa 550 AD.
Coin Details: OSTROGOTHS, Witigis, 536-540, AR Half Siliqua (14mm, 1.26 g, 6h) struck in the name of Justinian I, circa AD 536-538, Ravenna, NGC Grade: XF, Strike: 4/5, Surface: 2/5, Obverse: Pearl-diademed and mantled bust right, D N IVSTINI ANVS PF AVG, Reverse: DN / VVIT / ICES / REX in four lines within wreath. References: COI 63 (same dies as illustration); Ranieri 301; MIB 57; MEC 1, 151-2; Ex Künker 295 (25 September 2017), lot 1230; Hermann-Joseph Lückger Collection (Peus 417, 2 November 2016), lot 846.