Siege of Urbinus

The siege of Urbinus^[1] also called siege of Urbino^[2] or siege of Urbinum^[3] took place in the year 538^[1][2] during Justinian's Gothic War.^[1][2][4] Earlier, when John took Ariminum, he had bypassed Auximus and Urbinus which would have to be taken now to secure the road to Ravenna.^[1][2] The Gothic king, Witigis, had sent a man called Moras^[1][4] with 2.000 troops^[1][2] to defend the city. In the year 538, the Byzantine commander, Belisarius went to besiege the town while another strong Byzantine contingents besieged Urviventus.^[1] The forces of Narses and John, other Byzantine commanders, who were undermining Belisarius' authority,^[1][3][5][6] joined him in this venture.^[1][3] Thinking the defenders would be terrified on seeing the Byzantine army, Belisarius sent envoys offering the garrison a chance to surrender.^[4] Narses and John set up camp separately form Belisarius, on the other side of the town, and, after negotiations with the garrison failed, totally abandoned the siege.^[1][4] They declared taking the town impossible and moved to capture Aemilia but while Belisarius was preparing to assault the town surrendered due to the failure of its spring.^[1][4] Astonished by such success, Narses sent John to capture Caesena but this assault failed.^[1] John then moved to and managed to capture Forocornelius.^[1] After this siege Belisarius moved to support in the siege of Urviventus, also capturing that city shortly after.^[1]