Ildibad

Ildibad (died 541) was a king of the Ostrogoths (Goths) who ruled from 540 to 541 during the middle stage of the Gothic War with the Byzantine Empire. After the capture of the Gothic king Witiges by the Byzantine general Belisarius during the fall of Ravenna, the nephew of the king, Uraias, refused the crown and instead suggested Ildibad, who was then chosen as king by the remaining Gothic forces in northern Italy. He inherited a kingdom reduced to a small territory around the cities of Pavia and Verona. Despite these difficulties, he took advantage of poor coordination among Byzantine commanders and rebuilt the Gothic forces. Ildibad defeated Byzantine forces led by Vitalius near Treviso. The victory helped him regain control over much of the Po Valley. He also attracted both Gothic supporters and Byzantine deserters dissatisfied with the Byzantine administration. However, his reign was short, marked by internal political tensions that resulted in the murder of Uraias. In May 541, Ildibad was murdered at a royal banquet by one of his bodyguards. His death caused a brief succession crisis, after which his nephew Totila became king and led the Gothic resurgence against the Byzantines.