The Siege of Ariminum, also known as the Siege of Rimini, was an encounter in 538 AD during the Gothic War, where the Byzantine forces broke the siege by the Ostrogoths (Goths).
In early 538 and during the Siege of Rome (537–538), the besieged Byzantine General Belisarius sent John the Sanguinary to raid the Picenum region. John took the initiative and captured Ariminum, near the Gothic capital, Ravenna, to entice the Goths into lifting the Siege of Rome. Belisarius sent reinforcements to Ariminum and ordered John to leave the city, as his cavalry forces would not be useful in the case of a siege. However, John refused to obey and stayed in the city. In the meantime, fearing for their capital, the Goths retreated from Rome in mid-March 538 and moved north. In April they besieged Ariminum, trapping John and his troops. They were unsuccessful in taking Ariminum by force, and instead, the leader of the Gothic forces, Vitiges, decided to starve the town.
Initially, the Byzantine leadership was divided over whether to rescue John despite his insubordination.
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