548. Death of Theodora, Empress of the East.
Crotona and Tarentum are captured by Belisarius, after which he is recalled to the East.
549. Second siege and capture of Rome by Totila.
The Lazic War begins—a contest of Rome and Persia on the Phasis; called Lazic from the Lazi, a tribe which still subsists.
550. Vigilius, at Constantinople, urges Justinian to rescue Italy from the dominion of Arians.
Illyrium is freed of the Slavonians.
551. Totila restores the senate at Rome.
Silkworms said to have been first reared in Europe from eggs brought out of the East.
552. Totila defeated and slain by Narses, Belisarius' successor, to whom the greater part of Italy submits.
Teias is appointed their king by the Ostrogoths.