A military history of the campaigns of Belisarius, the greatest general of the Eastern Roman (Byzantine) Emperor Justinian. He twice defeated the Persians and reconquered North Africa from the Vandals in a single year at the age of 29, before going on to regain Spain and Italy, including Rome (briefly), from the barbarians. It discusses the evolution from classical Roman to Byzantine armies and systems of warfare, as well as those of their chief enemies,...

War is rarely a predictable enterprise -- it is a mess of luck, chance, and incalculable variables. Sudden, sharp changes in fortune can reverse the course of war. These intractable circumstances are sometimes mastered by leaders of genius -- asked at the eleventh hour to save a hopeless conflict, created by others, often unpopular with politics and the public. These savior generals often come from outside the established power structure, employ radical...

"Belisarius, the finest general of his or any age, must save the world if he can. Guided by visions from a future that may never be, he and a band of comrades penetrate the Malwa heartland, seeking the core of the enemy's power. Against them are numbers, savagery, and an icy, inhuman intelligence that is without weekness or mercy."--Cover

As Belisarius and his companions march into the Malwa heartland, only one thing is sure: "if they fail, their whole world is doomed to living Hell--for all time!"--Jacket.

A time-traveller arrives in 6th century Rome with information on advanced weaponry so the empire can defeat its enemies and change history. That means defeating the Malwa who will not be able to conquer the time-traveller's people.