Count Belisarius by Robert Graves - Essay Example

Count Belisarius By  Robert Graves Robert Graves was considered a leading English poet in the twentieth century and many of his works gained recognition including Count Belisarius it was written in the form of a biography, but instead based on the writings of Procopius while parts of Belisarius’ life that have little or no account are filled in by fiction. It was a great historical view of the era dating back to the early 6th century and the Roman period. Graves relives the period which wasn’t a peaceful time for the Roman Empire; it was a time of struggle where they were threatened from all sides. They lived in fear and danger of being attacked or invaded at any time. But there was one man who fought through all the adversities and earned legendary status amongst his clan, his name was Belisarius, he was a well respected man in the community and considered a “great” by many. He was actually the Emperor Justinians greatest general, a soldier on all fronts, always ready to fight for his people and willing to protect them at any cost. Belisarius is renowned for his work as one of the most successful generals produced by the Byzantine army, he played a key role in the Emperor Justinians reconstitution of the empire. Despite little or no support from his emperor he still managed to be a success and many historians consider him to be among the last Romans, initially he started his military career as a bodyguard to the emperor but later progressed through the ranks. He participated in many battles including Mesopotamia; he later travelled to Africa and defeated the rival army, then he was ordered to conquer Italy and slowly but convincingly he entered city after city with assuring results. However he wasn’t at the peak of his powers by then, largely because of the lack of trust by the emperor who feared a military coup, however he continued to serve his emperor with fierce loyalty. Later he would eventually retire and live the rest of his days in comfort, he was without doubt a tactical genius and a courageous man. His vision was extravagant and for someone his age he was years ahead of the rest. Remember this was a time when religion was a political matter and it would continuously shift with changes in political power. Not individuals but entire populations would change their religious beliefs. It was a time of uncertainty; treachery was a common trait with change being the only constant thing. Alliances would change as power shifted from one group to another. Graves read Count Belisarius carefully before writing about him; he wanted to know all the aspects of his life, he struggled to meet the deadline for the book but the publishers understood that he needed his time. The book covers many of the battles in great detail that showcase the brilliance of Belisarius. However the critics are never far away looking for ways to criticize the work, they viewed the character of Belisarius as one dimensional and too nice to be true. Graves goes on with his praises for Count Belisarius but he fails to identify his weaknesses. Let’s face it no one is perfect and even Belisarius had flaws which the writer has ignored. The Eastern Roman Empire which was under the control of Emperor Justinian stretched its holdings to Greece, Italy, Spain, and North Africa: almost the size of the original Roman Empire. The man credited for these accomplishments was Belisarius, he never lost a major battle and the writer portrays him as a fictional character that mesmerizes the onlookers. Belisarius was constantly mistreated by his emperor, mainly because he was jealous of his success; he was even maligned by his sub-ordinates and repeatedly charged with sedition. Despite all the problems he faced Belisarius never betrayed the emperor and was a selfless man as the writer has portrayed him. He endured abuse but was a true servant of his people and was always there to help them in time to hardships and trouble; he spent the last few years of his life in relative peace and harmony. He mostly kept to himself and did not utter a word against the emperor Justinian while serving him obediently, his career was really remarkable and his loyalty was second to none. Despite this there are a few misconceptions about Belisarius. Some believe that he was blinded by the emperor and made to roam the streets like a beggar but there isn’t enough historical evidence to support this fact. His wife had a good relationship with the empress Theodora and that helped him stay out of trouble most of the time. Although he had a strained relationship with the emperor he was still pardoned and allowed to live his last days freely, perhaps a fitting reward for his service to the empire. Graves has used some great historical context to describe that era and help us understand the way people used to live back then. It wasn’t a time of peace but instead it was a time for battle at all ends. There was a lust to conquer and destroy your enemies, the rulers did not seek a political solution but instead a military one was preferred most of the time. In order to resolve everyday matters their reverted to acts to violence, the need to be superior or better than the rest was growing. People died at alarming rates in battles and wars this was practiced throughout the world at that time not just the Roman Empire. Religion did not hold much importance it was just seen as another activity. People fought over worldly treasures and artifacts; there was betrayal all over the place with sons killing fathers and the urge to sit on the throne being ever present. The case of Emperor Justinian is no different he fought throughout his life to gain more power and authority while Belisarius was just another warrior who put his life on the line for him, his presence on the battlefield was a warning sign for opponents and his iconic stature will never be forgotten. Graves as a writer has demonstrated his knowledge about history, it’s a very vast subject but he has managed to cover every single detail and given us a full account of that period, creating a vivid image for the readers. If you consider all of history you will probably be attracted to more popular figures such as Alexander the Great and so on. But the story of Belisarius is of a less popular figure however it catches the eye and causes intrigue because it has so many dimensions to it that you simply cannot ignore it; Graves has brought this classic piece of history to life by giving us something to think about. He has also gone on to discuss the personal life of Belisarius and how he lived with his wife, what sort of a relationship did they have. Antonina was the wife of Belisarius and was also a former prostitute along with the Empress Theodora, but once Theodora was crowned empress she asked her to marry the respectable General Belisarius, this was also seen as a political move by many so that she could manipulate the general and keep him under her control, making sure that he wasn’t a threat to the throne of Emperor Justinian. While Belisarius was a competent man on the battlefield he wasn’t the same in his personal life, he wasn’t entirely happy with his marriage and would often have arguments with his wife. He looked assured as a leader of troops but was unable to control his wife or her actions. Although Antonina is devoted to her husband bus has a estranged relationship with him specially with all the politics involved in their life, it isn’t easy for either of them but they continue to live with each other despite their differences. However Antonina cheats on him with other men when the situation gets desperate and despite Belisarius coming to know of this he is unable to do anything about it. He is a weak man when it comes to dealing with emotional issues. With everyone at each other’s throats it is hard to blame one person for the misfortunes. Belisarius is disgraced by his own wife and he is often tormented in the same way again and again. On the political front Belisarius is just a puppet controlled by Emperor Justinian and his wife, he has to follow orders and cannot argue with his superiors. He does not rebel against his rulers despite the hardships they put him through; he is just willing to take anything for the sake of the empire. His honor set aside his fate lies in the hands of the Empress and the Emperor. This novel is beautifully crafted it has its twists and turns that keep you interested at every point. Graves has done a brilliant job in presenting this story and inspiring readers to learn about their past historical figures. The book has shed light on each and every character in great detail. The Emperor is a clever yet lacks courage; he is not a strong willed person. Often misusing his authority to control others and influence them. However the main focus of the story as the name suggests is on Belisarius and his life and service in the early Roman era. To sum it all up I would say that the book is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed every part of it. The storyline is engaging and entertains throughout. I have discussed my favourite parts from this book that include the life of Belisarius as a military general, his personal life , the role of the Emperor Justinian and his wife while towards the end I have also talked about the wife of Belisarius. All this joins in to form a compelling story and gives us an idea of how life was during those times. Graves has without doubt surprised me with his innovation and excellent balance in explaining the story. My personal opinion is that Belisarius was an excellent person with all the qualities and attributes that one desires, he may lack something in the emotional aspect but his intellect and vision more than makes up for that fact. He was a true great and rightly among the last Romans but is he another page in history that has been lost or will his legend live on? Works Cited Primary Source Count Belisarius by Robert Graves Originally Published in (1938) Version used Published by: Penguin Classic Published on: 03 Aug 2006 Read More