Eastern Roman Empire (nov 2, 550 – jan 1, 661)

Description:

In the Gothic War of 535-554 between the Ostrogoths and the Byzantines, the city was brutally sacked by the Byzantines in 536.
It was then starved into surrender by the Ostrogoths after the changing tide of the war in the 540's, before Narses' expedition in the 1550's during which it was captured by the Byzantines again. When the Lombards invaded and conquered much of Italy in the years following the Gothic War, Naples remained loyal to the Byzantine Empire.

In 615, Naples rebelled for the first time against the Exarch of Ravenna, the Byzatine's government in Italy. In response, the first form of duchy was created.