For about two more years the Gothic army had to struggle with the Byzantians. Both sides were fatigued. Some of the Goths became traitors, and the worst traitress was Matasvinta, the wife of Vitigis. In the spring, 540, Vitigis was taken as a war prisoner and was sent to Constantinople.
(18) MATASVINTA (Matasvintha) was the wife of king Vitigis. Her name is composed of two words: Mata (= Mate, Mote in Lithuanian) meaning "mother's", and svintha (= svinta in Lithuanian) meaning "dawn". Hence her name means Mother's dawn.

She was a beautiful woman, and Vitigis adored her so much that he even struck coins with her name on them. But Matasvinta hated her husband, always seeked the opportunity to get rid of him, and she never was faithful to him.
(19) GILTIBAUDAS (Hildibadws). The name of this king is composed of two words: Gilti and baudas. The Gothic word Hildi (= Giltis, giltine in Lithuanian) means death; and the word badws (= baudus in Lithuan.) means inhibitor.

After losing Vitigis, the Goths elected for their king Giltibaudas in 540. The Gothic nation was badly depressed then on account of various failures. Giltibaudas didn't have any confidence in himself, and in the assembly of the Gothic chiefs he repeatedly insisted that it wasn't becoming for him to be the king of the Goths, and maybe it would be better if some foreigner would rule over the abashed Gothic nation.

Giltibaudas, however, was a very capable leader. He annihilated the immense Roman army near Treviso. Almost the whole Roman army perished there. The Goths flocked under the command of Giltibaudas from everywhere. The Gothic army again became powerful. Everybody loved and respected Giltibaudas, because he proved to be really a valiant and a capable ruler. But even then his fate was tangled up by a woman: Giltibaudas' wife quarrelled with the wife of the Gothic hero named Vyreika. And she induced Giltibaudas to kill Vyreika, which he soon did. One day, while Giltibaudas was feasting with some noted Gothic chiefs, unexpectedly a certain Gepid, a friend of Vyreika's with his sword smote the head of Giltibaudas from behind, and thus death took away Giltibaudas ("the death inhibitor").
(20) ARARIKIS II (Arareiks). The name of this king is composed of words: Ara (= aras in Lithuan.) meaning eagle, and rikis. The Gothic word ara has the same meaning and is pronounced exactly like Lithuanian aras.
After the Ostrogoths lost their hero Giltibaudas, they were indifferent as to who was going to be their king. Rugians (Rugii were the ancestors of the Latvians), who at that time were united with the Ostrogoths, proclaimed their countrymen Ararikis as the king of the Goths. But Ararikis was a sluggard. During the four months of his reign, he didn't undertake any steps against the Romans. Besides, it was detected, that Ararikis planned to sell Italy to the Byzantians and didn't care about the welfare of the Gothic people. The Goths became restless and killed Ararikis. No coins of Ararikis are known.
(21) BADVILA (Badwila) was elected as the king of the Goths in 541. This king had two names. On the coins he always called himself Badvila, but on some documents his signature was Tautila (Totila). There are very many old inhabitants in Lithuania having the names Badvila, Tautila, Tautvila etc.

Badvila was very tactful, merciful and a witty king. All the Goths heeded him and loved him. The whole world was astonished when Badvila with 5000 of his men completely crushed the Roman army consisting of 12,000 men. This famous battle took place in the year of 541.

Badvila was as frugal with the Gothic lives as he could be. If he blockaded some fortress, then he watchfully waited until famine would press the Roman warriors to surrender. He very seldom besieged any fortification by storm. In his characteristic manner he blockaded the city of Naples in 542. Emperor Justinian was sending by land and sea some reinforcements to Naples. But Badvila destroyed this whole army of Justinian, and captured its generals. Then he ordered Demetrius put in chains, dragged him around the walls, and showed to the Neapolitans what had happened to that most famous general. When Neapolitans were hard pressed by famine and diseases, they sent an embassy to Badvila asking him to grant them 30 days truce till relief could come from Constantinople; and if within that time no help should come, then they promised to surrender. Badvila answered to the ambassadors: "I shall grant you three times 30 days delay, if you choose to take it". Such tactics disquieted the Neapolitans, and after several days they opened the city's gates and capitulated without any stipulations. The world was once more astonished, when Badvila didn't plunder that capitulated city, but even gave orders to his officers to help the sick and those that were wounded, and to supply everybody with proper food. He allowed Conon, the defender of the city, to embark on boats with his whole army, and sail wherever he preferred. Conon was ashamed to sail to Constantinople, so he decided to sail to Rome. But the wind was unfavourable, and Conon was lamenting that he was unable to escape when Badvila gave him a chance to escape, and now surely he and his companions would become war prisoners. When Badvila heard about this, he assured Conon that he shouldn't fear, because they would not be imprisoned. He even suggested that they might travel by land. For this purpose Badvila supplied Conon with money and provisions. This was the first instance in history, that the conqueror didn't take captives into slavery. He even showed them mercy! About such conduct on Badvila's part, the news spread all over Italy and throughout the world. Italians began to like that "barbarian" king. City after city surrendered to him.

On the 17^th day of December, 546, Badvila captured Rome. And here again everybody was surprised, that Badvila purposely gave a chance for the Byzantians to escape from the city. When others urged him to pursue the enemy, he calmly said: "Nothing more could please a conqueror than the flight of the enemy". After taking possession of Rome, Badvila soon sent his envoys to Justinian asking if it were not about time to come to an agreement. Foolishly proud Justinian insulted the envoys and refused to negotiate. Then Badvila decided to set the city of Rome on fire and to destroy it so, that "the city would turn into a sheep pasture". And when Belisarius, the general of Justinian, heard about this, he dispatched a letter to Badvila asking him the following question: "Do you choose that history would brand you and abhor you because you were the destroyer of the noblest city in the world; or that it would honor you as the preserver of that city?" When Badvila received this letter he read it attentively, as if desiring to learn its contents by heart. And Badvila spared Rome, but he destroyed the walls which surrounded the city, so that in the future nobody could defend Rome. In Badvila's army the most famous generals were Uzdrila (Usdrila) and Alkgiras (Alhgairns).

In the year 549, Belisarius with his whole army withdrew from Italy. Again the Goths were the sole masters in Italy.

In the year 552, there was a terrible battle between Goths and Byzantians, near the town of Taginae. The Byzantian army was led by general Narses. This time the Goths were unlucky, and Badvila had to flee. During his flight, a certain Gepid named Asbads pierced Badvila with a lance. So expired the greatest Gothic hero, who had reigned over Italy for eleven years.
DEJA (Theia) became the king of the Goths in the year 552. The word deja is purely Lithuanian, for instance "gera-dejas" means "doer of good deeds". This king besides this name, had another, namely Tyla, because on documents and on coins he always signed THILA. There are many inhabitants in Lithuania whose names are Tyla, Tylenis etc.

Deja was the last king of the Ostrogoths. The state of affairs of the Gothic nation then was already pitiable. The days of their dominion in Italy were passing away. Here and there they sought for assistance, but nobody wanted to help the Goths. The Visigoths refused to help their kinsmen, because a worm of jealousy was gnawing them. The Germans (Allemans and Franks) only sneered at the Gothic distress, because their desire was to see the crumbling of the Gothic power, so that they could grab Italy for themselves.

There was no chance now for the wearied Gothic army to gain any victory over the enormous and the well equipped Roman army. Soon the news reaching king Deja, that the brother of Badvila named Alkgiras was defending the fortress of Cumae, therefore Deja hastened with his brave warriors there to help him. But Narses with his whole army intercepted Deja's march. Deja's army was forced to pitch camp at the foot of Vesuvius. For two months the Goths defended themselves, and they could have held the ground much longer if not for some traitors. One of the Gothic admirals was bringing provisions to the Goths, and he sold the ships with all their contents to the Byzantians. Being pressed by hunger, the Goths devoured their horses. After this, seeing that death was inevitable for the Gothic nation, they decided for better or for worse to assault the Roman army. The battle that ensued was desperate and terrible. Like a lion Deja smote the Romans. And when Deja's armor became heavy, because twelve spears were imbedded in it, he threw that armor aside. While changing armor, instantly Deja was pierced in the breast by a Roman arrow. So fell the last king of the Ostrogoths.

The Romans cut off Deja's head, and setting it on a pole, displayed it to the Gothic army. But the Goths were not frightened by this awful sight. They encouraged each other saying: "If our Grand Chief Deja gave his life for the Gothic nation, then it would be a shame for us to submit to slavery". And the remnant of the Gothic warriors fought furiously for two successive days. On the third day they were so overfatigued and pressed by famine, that they sent their ambassadors to the Roman general Narses to treat for peace. Even then the Goths would by no means humble themselves, nor would they become the subjects of Justinian. The Goths promised never again to raise their arms against the Roman Empire, and that they would leave Italy, provided, that the Romans would supply them with the necessary money for their journey, and that during their exodus no one would molest them. Then the Roman generals held a council, and perceiving that it was too dangerous to struggle with the desperate Goths, they decided to accept those conditions.

In March, 533, the remnants of the Gothic army commenced their exodus in the northward direction. Large groups of the Gothic people went back to the land of their ancestors, namely to Prussia and Lithuania; others found home in Spain amongst their kinsmen Balthagoths (Visigoths); others settled in Crimea; and others were scattered elsewhere.

Ostrogoths were the rulers of Italy for 60 years, then they suddenly disappeared from the pages of History, and we have no more records concerning the fate of the Ostrogothic people. The lack of unity ruined them.......

In the spring the majority of the Goths left Italy. Soon, by fall, innumerable bands of Germans (Allemans and Franks) poured into that territory. Wherever the Germans entered, they plundered, burned, and destroyed. The Roman people were grieving that they forced out the Gothic serpent from their homes, and now were unable to check the German crocodile...... Alas, now more than ever, Italy was deluged in blood and fire.