Byzantine Italy
Parts of Italy held by the Byzantine Empire
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Byzantine Italy consisted of various parts of the Italian Peninsula that were under the control of the Byzantine Empire after the Gothic War (535–554) and down to the end of the 11th century. There was a brief attempt at Byzantine reconquest in the middle of the 12th century.[1]
Chronologically, it refers to:
- Praetorian prefecture of Italy (540/554–584)
- Exarchate of Ravenna (584–751)
- Theme of Longobardia (c. 891 – c. 965)
- Catepanate of Italy (965–1071)
Several states avoided conquest by the Lombards or Franks and maintained nominal Byzantine allegiance even after the Byzantine presence in Italy came to an end:
- Byzantine Venetia (later: Republic of Venice)
- Duchy of Naples
- Duchy of Gaeta
- Duchy of Amalfi
- Duchy of Sorrento
Likewise, the islands of Sardinia and Sicily maintained Byzantine allegiance in this period:
- Theme of Sicily (687–902)
- Byzantine Sardinia
See also
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Category:Byzantine rule in Italy.