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The Life Of Belisarius
Serving the Byzantine Emperor Justinian during the 6th century A.D., Belisarius defeated a superior Persian force that threatened to extinguish Constantinople; his small army next drove the Vandals out of the ancient Roman provinces of North Africa and forced the Visigoths to retreat from Italy, returning Rome to the Emperor for the final time. His ability to achieve victory against overwhelming odds and his fairness to both his own troops and those of his enemies became legendary. Despite his successes, Justinian recalled Belisarius and, swayed by jealous advisers, accused the general of conspiring to overthrow him. Although innocent, he was publicly humiliated and stripped of his rank. But when a massive army of barbarians moved against Constantinople and the citizenry panicked in fear, they turned to their only true hero, Belisarius. The forsaken general donned his armor, called out his trusted veterans, and repulsed the barbarian horde. But instead of showing gratitude, Justinian banished him from the city.
Considered among the greatest generals of all time and studied later for his innovative battle tactics and unconventional strategy, Belisarius is credited with reclaiming the lost glory of Rome and helping to preserve Constantinople, whose influence would continue for centuries. Lord Mahon's biography, the first scholarly history of this remarkable figure, combines the adventure of a great epic novel with the engrossing story of a man who, despite injustices, remained loyal to the end. Edited and introduced by historian Jon C. N. Coulston, this new and retypeset edition, the first in more than 100 years, will allow the modern reader to discover one of history's most intriguing figures.
Considered among the greatest generals of all time and studied later for his innovative battle tactics and unconventional strategy, Belisarius is credited with reclaiming the lost glory of Rome and helping to preserve Constantinople, whose influence would continue for centuries. Lord Mahon's biography, the first scholarly history of this remarkable figure, combines the adventure of a great epic novel with the engrossing story of a man who, despite injustices, remained loyal to the end. Edited and introduced by historian Jon C. N. Coulston, this new and retypeset edition, the first in more than 100 years, will allow the modern reader to discover one of history's most intriguing figures.
256 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1829
About the author
Philip Henry Stanhope
379 books2 followersPhilip Henry Stanhope, 5th Earl Stanhope FRS (30 January 1805 – 24 December 1875), styled Viscount Mahon between 1816 and 1855, was a British politician and historian.
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
March 26, 2018
While I was reading this book, LibraryThing tweeted, “What’s the first sentence of the book you’re reading right now?” Well, the first sentence of The Life of Belisarius is “At the beginning of the sixth century of the Christian era, the empire of Constantinople was beset with enemies and sinking to decay.” Historiography has come a long way since 1829, but twenty-first century historians can’t hold a candle to the Georgians for their opening lines. Lord Mahon’s prose is lively and engaging, if unsurprisingly florid and dense. This is the sort of history that was available to Sir Walter Scott when he was inventing the historical novel, and it left me wishing he’d ever been inspired to give sixth century Byzantium the same treatment he gave twelfth century England and eighteenth century Scotland.
Which isn’t to say that the book works as a modernday work of history. Mahon quite unself-consciously allows his prejudices to intrude on his account, as when he expresses his wish that Belisarius would have failed rather than succeeded in his reconquest of Tunisia, since if the Islamic conquerors a century later had found it a thriving Vandal kingdom rather than a distant Byzantine outpost, their advance might have been stemmed at Carthage, preventing the Arab conquests of Spain and Sicily and invasions of France and Italy.
Mahon is far too anxious to cast his characters, not as human beings, but as heroes or villains. Belisarius is, of course, the hero; Mahon explicitly says, late in the book, that when an outnumbered Belisarius bears back the Goths’ assault on Rome, it shows what the presence of “the hero” can inspire his troops to do. He insists that Belisarius was never defeated by being bested by his opposition, but only because his subordinates mutinied or he was too much outnumbered. Yet it never occurs to him that time after time, in theatre after theatre and at the head of army after army, his subordinates ALWAYS mutinied, and that that itself says something really significant about Belisarius. Rome’s last great general was a brilliant strategist and personally courageous on the battlefield, but it’s very telling that he was never, ever able to count on the loyalty of his underlings.
Of course, a hero needs villains, and for Mahon, those are Belisarius’s wife Antonina, Antonina’s close friend the Empress Theodora, and Theodora’s husband the Emperor Justinian. Mahon despises Theodora, chiefly for thinking she had a right to hold opinions and press them on her husband even though she was a woman. (He outright says in the final chapter that the one genuine criticism that can be pointed at Belisarius is that he respected his own wife and listened to her counsels.) But for him the central villain is Justinian.
Mahon seems to take it as a personal affront that Justinian is regarded as a great ruler. He calls him vacillating, cowardly and dishonest. He tells us in chapter one that we should disregard that Justinian built the most awesome Christian cathedral (now, of course, the greatest mosque) ever built, expanded the boundaries of Byzantium further than any time before or since (bringing Rome itself back into the Roman Empire for the last time), or issued the most significant index of Roman law ever compiled, because rather than do all these things on his lonesome, he instead appointed the most qualified men he could find to do them. Delegation, it seems, is an automatic disqualification to leadership. And of course, Justinian listened to what his wife had to say, which is just unforgivable.
But I mean. As anyone who's read Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton can attest, vilifying the rival in order to obscure the failings of your subject is hardly something you can't still find in modernday biography. And out of curiosity, I compared Mahon's account of Belisarius's defence of Rome against the siege of Vitiges with how it appears in one of my very favourite history books, Byzantium: The Early Centuries by Lord Norwich (is it that titled aristocrats are weirdly likely to write Byzantine histories? Or that I'm weirdly attracted to Byzantine histories by titled aristocrats?) and found the two passages virtually identical. So even with two extra centuries--the centuries that gave us archaeology and the historical method--it would seem that even today we're still relying primarily on Procopius for our accounts of this subject matter.
So until we find that lost, hitherto unsuspected Walter Scott manuscript, this is still a work well worth reading.
Which isn’t to say that the book works as a modernday work of history. Mahon quite unself-consciously allows his prejudices to intrude on his account, as when he expresses his wish that Belisarius would have failed rather than succeeded in his reconquest of Tunisia, since if the Islamic conquerors a century later had found it a thriving Vandal kingdom rather than a distant Byzantine outpost, their advance might have been stemmed at Carthage, preventing the Arab conquests of Spain and Sicily and invasions of France and Italy.
Mahon is far too anxious to cast his characters, not as human beings, but as heroes or villains. Belisarius is, of course, the hero; Mahon explicitly says, late in the book, that when an outnumbered Belisarius bears back the Goths’ assault on Rome, it shows what the presence of “the hero” can inspire his troops to do. He insists that Belisarius was never defeated by being bested by his opposition, but only because his subordinates mutinied or he was too much outnumbered. Yet it never occurs to him that time after time, in theatre after theatre and at the head of army after army, his subordinates ALWAYS mutinied, and that that itself says something really significant about Belisarius. Rome’s last great general was a brilliant strategist and personally courageous on the battlefield, but it’s very telling that he was never, ever able to count on the loyalty of his underlings.
Of course, a hero needs villains, and for Mahon, those are Belisarius’s wife Antonina, Antonina’s close friend the Empress Theodora, and Theodora’s husband the Emperor Justinian. Mahon despises Theodora, chiefly for thinking she had a right to hold opinions and press them on her husband even though she was a woman. (He outright says in the final chapter that the one genuine criticism that can be pointed at Belisarius is that he respected his own wife and listened to her counsels.) But for him the central villain is Justinian.
Mahon seems to take it as a personal affront that Justinian is regarded as a great ruler. He calls him vacillating, cowardly and dishonest. He tells us in chapter one that we should disregard that Justinian built the most awesome Christian cathedral (now, of course, the greatest mosque) ever built, expanded the boundaries of Byzantium further than any time before or since (bringing Rome itself back into the Roman Empire for the last time), or issued the most significant index of Roman law ever compiled, because rather than do all these things on his lonesome, he instead appointed the most qualified men he could find to do them. Delegation, it seems, is an automatic disqualification to leadership. And of course, Justinian listened to what his wife had to say, which is just unforgivable.
But I mean. As anyone who's read Ron Chernow's Alexander Hamilton can attest, vilifying the rival in order to obscure the failings of your subject is hardly something you can't still find in modernday biography. And out of curiosity, I compared Mahon's account of Belisarius's defence of Rome against the siege of Vitiges with how it appears in one of my very favourite history books, Byzantium: The Early Centuries by Lord Norwich (is it that titled aristocrats are weirdly likely to write Byzantine histories? Or that I'm weirdly attracted to Byzantine histories by titled aristocrats?) and found the two passages virtually identical. So even with two extra centuries--the centuries that gave us archaeology and the historical method--it would seem that even today we're still relying primarily on Procopius for our accounts of this subject matter.
So until we find that lost, hitherto unsuspected Walter Scott manuscript, this is still a work well worth reading.
June 8, 2017
An excellent biography of a great man. Belisarius, brilliant and ever loyal to the empire, reconquered italy and north africa and reformed the Roman Empire, then defended the empire from Persia, then went back to Italy. Though he was given no support--practically no troops or equipment--he was able to win victories and the survival of the Byzantine empire. His reconquest of Africa did likely pave the way for the muslim invasion some centuries later, as he was never able to hold on to and organize the province, but there was no way he could have known of that at the time. He was offered the crown of the Western Empire, but declined it--perhaps he should have taken it. Hoton's writing is clear and he clearly researched the primary sources. Hoton absolutely hates Empress Theodora (although history has softened on her in recent years, perhaps justly), but this is a minor quibble. A book worth reading about a great man who was unfairly treated by his contemporaries and who should be recognized by us.
January 16, 2019
Great read
I enjoyed reading this book and the author did a pretty decent job of adhering to the facts but it could be discern that he did had a favorable disposition towards this tragic hero of the Byzantine Empire, Belisarius
I enjoyed reading this book and the author did a pretty decent job of adhering to the facts but it could be discern that he did had a favorable disposition towards this tragic hero of the Byzantine Empire, Belisarius
September 5, 2018
Enjoyed this book
September 14, 2016
A thoroughly riveting history of a truly admirable man both in character and deeds.
A quick sketch of Belisarius
"As a military leader he was enterprising, firm, and fearless ; his conception was clear, and his judgment rapid and decisive. His conquests were achieved with smaller means than any other of like extent recorded in history. He frequently experienced reverses in the field, but in no case did he fail without some strong and sufficient reason for his failure, such as the mutiny of his soldiers, the overwhelming number of his antagonists, or his total want of necessary supplies ; and it may be observed of him, as of Arminius, that sometimes beaten in battle he was never overcome in war. His superior tactics covered his defeats, retrieved his losses, and prevented his enemies from reaping the fruits of victory ; and it is particularly mentioned that even in the most dangerous emergencies he never lost his presence of mind.
Among the circumstances which contributed most strongly to his success were the kindness which his adversaries met with at his hands, and the strict discipline which he maintained among his soldiers. The moderation of Belisarius appears the more entitled to praise from the fierceness and disorder usual in his age. It was his first care after every victory to extend mercy and protection to the vanquished, and to shield their persons and, if possible, their property from injury. During a march the trampling of the corn-fields by the cavalry was carefully avoided, and the troops, as Procopius tells us, seldom ventured even to gather an apple from the trees, while a ready payment to the villagers for any provisions that they bought made them bless the name of Belisarius and secured to the Eoman camp a plentiful supply. To the soldiers who transgressed these rules the general was stern and unforgiving ; no rank could defy, no obscurity could elude his justice ; and, because he punished severely, he had to punish but seldom. But while the licentious and turbulent were repressed by the strong arm of Belisarius, his liberality cheered and animated the deserving. The gift of a gold bracelet or collar rewarded any achievement in battle ; the loss of a horse or weapon was immediately supplied out of his private funds, and the wounded found in him a father and a friend. His private virtues promoted and confirmed the discipline of his men ; none ever saw him overcome with wine, and the charms of
the fairest captives from the Goths or Vandals could not overcome his conjugal fidelity."
- Lord Mahon (The Life of Belisarius)
A quick sketch of Belisarius
"As a military leader he was enterprising, firm, and fearless ; his conception was clear, and his judgment rapid and decisive. His conquests were achieved with smaller means than any other of like extent recorded in history. He frequently experienced reverses in the field, but in no case did he fail without some strong and sufficient reason for his failure, such as the mutiny of his soldiers, the overwhelming number of his antagonists, or his total want of necessary supplies ; and it may be observed of him, as of Arminius, that sometimes beaten in battle he was never overcome in war. His superior tactics covered his defeats, retrieved his losses, and prevented his enemies from reaping the fruits of victory ; and it is particularly mentioned that even in the most dangerous emergencies he never lost his presence of mind.
Among the circumstances which contributed most strongly to his success were the kindness which his adversaries met with at his hands, and the strict discipline which he maintained among his soldiers. The moderation of Belisarius appears the more entitled to praise from the fierceness and disorder usual in his age. It was his first care after every victory to extend mercy and protection to the vanquished, and to shield their persons and, if possible, their property from injury. During a march the trampling of the corn-fields by the cavalry was carefully avoided, and the troops, as Procopius tells us, seldom ventured even to gather an apple from the trees, while a ready payment to the villagers for any provisions that they bought made them bless the name of Belisarius and secured to the Eoman camp a plentiful supply. To the soldiers who transgressed these rules the general was stern and unforgiving ; no rank could defy, no obscurity could elude his justice ; and, because he punished severely, he had to punish but seldom. But while the licentious and turbulent were repressed by the strong arm of Belisarius, his liberality cheered and animated the deserving. The gift of a gold bracelet or collar rewarded any achievement in battle ; the loss of a horse or weapon was immediately supplied out of his private funds, and the wounded found in him a father and a friend. His private virtues promoted and confirmed the discipline of his men ; none ever saw him overcome with wine, and the charms of
the fairest captives from the Goths or Vandals could not overcome his conjugal fidelity."
- Lord Mahon (The Life of Belisarius)
April 30, 2021
The author was 24 when he wrote this. To me this is incredible, but even more incredible is that Lord Mahon's youth only helped his creative energies, resulting in one of the best narratives on the life of Belisarius, Rome's last great general. Impassioned and powerful, the story is grand in scope, shifting from Persia to Africa, Italy and the Balkans, all the while exploring human nature.
Nowhere does the author, Lord Mahon of the British Empire, deal in half measures. His prose is carefully constructed but forceful, loaded with koans that every philosopher and leader should try and remember. Mahon is not easily categorized politically. He criticizes almost all equally and speaks with a humanist wisdom often forgotten today. Take these quotes as demonstrative:
"Like most men, when unjustly condemned, they soon sunk to the level of their reputation."
"[T]hey had lost the confidence of success, which, in soldiers, is the surest means to its attainment, while, in generals, it is the common forerunner of rashness and defeat."
"If Gelimer, at the time, could really divest himself of useless sorrow for his throne, he far surpassed in wisdom and in happiness the greater number of mankind, who seldom enjoy any object during its possession, and only become alive to its value from the moment they have lost it."
"The recollection of the grievous and distracted government of the western emperors might have taught the citizens of Rome affection to their Gothic rulers, could one generation ever profit by the experience of the last."
Lord Mahon was what every rich nob with too much time on their hands should aspire to be: a human being who leaves a positive mark on his world. Inevitably some may disagree, but Belisarius himself might fall into that niche too.
This book benefits immensely from another often missed feature: the forward. Jon Coulson adds some perspective to Mahon's work, but rather than using this forward to bash an 19th CE writer, let's view it as another reason to buy this book. I like this quote particularly: "Of course one audience's praise of architectural glories is another's condemnation of ruinous building expenditure, but it would take an inhumanly bitter and twisted accountant not to be affected by the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God (Hagia Sophia)." xi. You will get two great authors for the price of one.
Nowhere does the author, Lord Mahon of the British Empire, deal in half measures. His prose is carefully constructed but forceful, loaded with koans that every philosopher and leader should try and remember. Mahon is not easily categorized politically. He criticizes almost all equally and speaks with a humanist wisdom often forgotten today. Take these quotes as demonstrative:
"Like most men, when unjustly condemned, they soon sunk to the level of their reputation."
"[T]hey had lost the confidence of success, which, in soldiers, is the surest means to its attainment, while, in generals, it is the common forerunner of rashness and defeat."
"If Gelimer, at the time, could really divest himself of useless sorrow for his throne, he far surpassed in wisdom and in happiness the greater number of mankind, who seldom enjoy any object during its possession, and only become alive to its value from the moment they have lost it."
"The recollection of the grievous and distracted government of the western emperors might have taught the citizens of Rome affection to their Gothic rulers, could one generation ever profit by the experience of the last."
Lord Mahon was what every rich nob with too much time on their hands should aspire to be: a human being who leaves a positive mark on his world. Inevitably some may disagree, but Belisarius himself might fall into that niche too.
This book benefits immensely from another often missed feature: the forward. Jon Coulson adds some perspective to Mahon's work, but rather than using this forward to bash an 19th CE writer, let's view it as another reason to buy this book. I like this quote particularly: "Of course one audience's praise of architectural glories is another's condemnation of ruinous building expenditure, but it would take an inhumanly bitter and twisted accountant not to be affected by the Church of the Holy Wisdom of God (Hagia Sophia)." xi. You will get two great authors for the price of one.
June 22, 2009
Jon Coulston’s introduction describes this as “…a work of meticulous scholarship penned by a British aristocrat with the resources and leisure for travel and research.” Philip Stanhope (a/k/a Lord Mahon) was 24 years old when “The Life of Belisarius” was published, and it is clearly a commendable, if flawed, effort. The authorial voice is positively enslaved by a compulsion to mimic Edward Gibbon. Even so, it’s a good (definitive?) source for the perspectives of mildly pompous, 19th Century English dandies on the life and times of Belisarius.
Mahon is churlishly misogynistic (a fault which Coulston attempts to minimize by ascribing it to his [Mahon’s:] era rather than his person), as well as nakedly pro-Christian. Even Gibbon acknowledged the inherent superstitious quality of all religions; Mahon finds it only in non-Christian actors (and occasionally in those Christian sects of which he personally disapproves). These are, in themselves, petty criticisms. However, throughout his book Mahon relies heavily upon his own biases and prejudices to explain historical causation.
Nevertheless, it is an engrossing and entertaining book – in no small measure because of the subject himself. Belisarius may not have bequeathed to posterity enough material to construct a first-rate psychological biography, but his actions precluded the necessity. His story would be impressive in any telling of it.
Mahon is churlishly misogynistic (a fault which Coulston attempts to minimize by ascribing it to his [Mahon’s:] era rather than his person), as well as nakedly pro-Christian. Even Gibbon acknowledged the inherent superstitious quality of all religions; Mahon finds it only in non-Christian actors (and occasionally in those Christian sects of which he personally disapproves). These are, in themselves, petty criticisms. However, throughout his book Mahon relies heavily upon his own biases and prejudices to explain historical causation.
Nevertheless, it is an engrossing and entertaining book – in no small measure because of the subject himself. Belisarius may not have bequeathed to posterity enough material to construct a first-rate psychological biography, but his actions precluded the necessity. His story would be impressive in any telling of it.
January 24, 2017
The 'Life of Belisarius' is really just a retelling of the works of Prokopios and Agathias, with a heavy Victorian slant. The 'scholarship' is shallow, and the writing is loaded with Gibbonisms, but nonetheless it still maintains some commendable features. The narrative, while loaded with all sorts of silly judgments that have no place amongst scholarly works, is very easy to follow. Coulston's introduction is very good, and he acknowledges the faults of the work he is writing the preface for. The maps are generally useless, being much to small to see anything, and placed at random places in the book, making it very hard to find them once again.
Nonetheless, I can't bring myself to give it less than 3 stars. While it is shallow, extremely biased, and has virtually no support material, the narrative is very readable. The modern reader should be able to see through most of the Victorian/Georgian mindset. If you want to write an essay, just go and get Prokopios and Agathias (and Malalas and Scholastikos if you're a little braver.) If you just want some light reading on the Justinianic period, this is a fine book. It does not take an advanced student to see past Mahon's faults as a historian.
Nonetheless, I can't bring myself to give it less than 3 stars. While it is shallow, extremely biased, and has virtually no support material, the narrative is very readable. The modern reader should be able to see through most of the Victorian/Georgian mindset. If you want to write an essay, just go and get Prokopios and Agathias (and Malalas and Scholastikos if you're a little braver.) If you just want some light reading on the Justinianic period, this is a fine book. It does not take an advanced student to see past Mahon's faults as a historian.
January 4, 2023
Incredible. Five stars.
The Life of Belisarius is the tale of a Roman general in a time that many don't learn about -- the recapture of Rome and North Africa from Vandals and Goths in the sixth century, or about a century after most learn in school that the Roman Empire "fell."
Belisarius, one of the most brilliant generals in history, recaptured these regions for the Roman Empire (during the time of Emperor Justinian) using, on average, about 1/10 the amount of forces that the Vandals and Goths were fielding in battle.
Using a mix of extreme patience, clever tactics, and most of all, magnanimity towards those Vandals and Goths he conquered, Belisarius was so successful in his battles that he began to create suspicion within the court of Emperor Justinian.
The book is a mixture of history, battle tactics, and a warning about how an empire can continue to crumble from the inside due to greed, even when you have some very intelligent people within it.
The Life of Belisarius is the tale of a Roman general in a time that many don't learn about -- the recapture of Rome and North Africa from Vandals and Goths in the sixth century, or about a century after most learn in school that the Roman Empire "fell."
Belisarius, one of the most brilliant generals in history, recaptured these regions for the Roman Empire (during the time of Emperor Justinian) using, on average, about 1/10 the amount of forces that the Vandals and Goths were fielding in battle.
Using a mix of extreme patience, clever tactics, and most of all, magnanimity towards those Vandals and Goths he conquered, Belisarius was so successful in his battles that he began to create suspicion within the court of Emperor Justinian.
The book is a mixture of history, battle tactics, and a warning about how an empire can continue to crumble from the inside due to greed, even when you have some very intelligent people within it.
May 18, 2010
I'm naming my first born son Belisarius.
He'll be so bitter.
Unless he gets the ancient history gene.
He'll be so bitter.
Unless he gets the ancient history gene.
July 19, 2020
An amazing and inspiring leader, under appreciated in the modern day.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews