Justinian I is one of the most famous Byzantine emperors, known for his conquest of Italy that reunited the Western and Eastern parts of the former Roman Empire for a time. Many of these successes were made possible by the brilliant military leadership of Belisarius, supreme commander of the Byzantine armies and right-hand man to the emperor.

Theme: Belisarius and the Byzantine empire

• Sidney E. Dean, 'Introduction to the theme'
• Duncan B. Campbell, 'Procopius on Belisarius'
• Christopher Lillington-Martin, 'Nisibis, Procopius and the Strategikon'
• Ian Hughes, 'Belisarius' luck'
• Raffaele D'Amato, 'Belisarius' defence of Rome'
• Paul Elliott, 'Death from above - the throwing dart'
• Ross Cowan, 'Single combat in the age of Belisarius'

Features

• David Balfour, 'The Theban Sacred Band'
• Paul Bardunias, 'The debate: the Greek Linothorax'