Mundus (magister militum) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Mundus
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|---|---|
| Native name |
Μοῦνδος, Mundo
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| Died | 536 |
| Allegiance | Byzantine Empire |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Nika revolt Gothic War (535–554) |
| Children | Mauricius |
| Relations | Giesmus Attila? |
Mundus (also known as Mundo) was a powerful military leader. He lived a long time ago, dying in the year 536. He came from a mix of different groups, possibly the Gepids, Huns, or Goths.
Mundus was likely the son of Giesmus, a Gepid king. He started his career leading a group of fighters in a region called Pannonia. Later, he became an ally of Theodoric the Great, a famous Ostrogothic king.
After Theodoric died in 526, Mundus joined the Byzantine Empire. He served under Emperor Justinian I. Mundus fought in many battles, helped stop a big riot in the capital city, and played a key role in the Gothic War. He died during this war in 536.
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Early Life and Rise to Power
Mundus was the son of Giesmus, a king of the Gepids. The Gepids were an East Germanic tribe. Their main city was Sirmium. Mundus's uncle, Thraustila, probably became king after Giesmus died.
In 488, Thraustila was killed in battle. The Ostrogoths, led by King Theodoric the Great, took over Sirmium. After this, Mundus became the leader of a group of fighters in Pannonia. He even declared himself a king.
Joining Forces with Theodoric
Mundus set up his base in a tower called Herta. In 505, the Byzantine Empire sent an army to fight him. But King Theodoric sent his general Pitzias to help Mundus.
Mundus and Pitzias joined their forces. Together, they defeated the Byzantine army. Mundus remained an ally of Theodoric until the king's death in 526.
Serving the Byzantine Emperor
After Theodoric died, Mundus joined the Byzantine Empire. In 529, he and his son, Mauricius, became Byzantine commanders. Emperor Justinian I made Mundus a top general in the Illyricum region.
Mundus fought against groups like the Slavs and Bulgars. In 531, he briefly became the chief general in the East. But in 532, he returned to his role in Illyricum.
The Nika Riots
In 532, a huge riot broke out in Constantinople, the capital city. This event was called the Nika Riots. Mundus and his soldiers were in the city at the time.
He worked with another famous general, Belisarius. Together, they successfully stopped the riots. Mundus's troops helped to end the uprising near the city's main hippodrome.
The Gothic War
In 535, the Gothic War began. Mundus was sent to fight in Dalmatia. He captured the city of Salona (modern-day Split, Croatia) from the Goths.
In 536, a sad event happened. Mundus's son, Mauricius, was killed during a Gothic counterattack. Mundus was very upset. He then launched a strong attack against the Goths. He defeated them completely. However, while chasing the defeated Goths, Mundus was also killed.
