"Give an obol to Belisarius." So spoke the Eastern Roman Emperor Justinian, referring to the now-former general of his army, Belisarius (500 AD - 565 AD), now fallen from grace and forced—also given his blindness—to beg. This downward spiral is also clearly visible in the painting by Jacques-Louis David [see photo above], which shows an elderly Belisarius, with the help of a child, begging passersby (unaware of who he is except for the guard in the background, who also recognises his former leader) for money to survive. A hero of the fallen empire, now forced to starve, forgotten by those who once praised him.

In reality, this decadent image of Belisarius—a consequence of his deteriorating relationship with Justinian—is what is called a "historical falsehood." Having joined the army at a young age, Belisarius immediately distinguished himself for his courage, intelligence, and fighting skills, so much so that he later became part of Emperor Justinian's personal guard. In 530 AD, he achieved a famous victory in the Battle of Dara against the Persians, employing innovative tactics and perfect defensive organisation. This victory made it clear that Belisarius was not only a courageous commander but also an exceptional strategist.
However, the following year, he suffered a defeat at Callinicum. Despite this, his prestige remained extremely high thanks to his overall abilities and the trust Justinian placed in him. In 532 AD—during the so-called "Nika Revolt"—Belisarius himself saved the emperor's throne by heroically leading his men against the rebels, killing them with extreme cynicism and brutality. This event definitively consolidated Justinian's power and Belisarius's fame, who was then entrusted with an ambitious mission: to conquer Vandal-occupied North Africa. Unsurprisingly, the military operation was a success, and by 535 AD, Belisarius was sent to fight in Italy against the Goths, quickly conquering several important southern cities (including Syracuse and Naples). It was at this point that his relationship with his emperor began to strain.

Justinian began to feel increasingly overshadowed by the growing fame and power of his most heroic general, so much so that he repeatedly recalled him to Constantinople and stripped him of his power. Belisarius, however, never rebelled and remained loyal to the empire until the end. For this reason—as well as for his great military prowess—he is remembered as "the last Roman."