The Gepids' defeat causes a geopolitical shift…
July 552 CE
The Gepids' defeat causes a geopolitical shift in the Pannonian Basin, as it ends the danger represented by the Gepids to the Empire.
The Gepids' utter defeat could have meant the end of their kingdom and its conquest by the Lombards, but Justinian, wanting to maintain an equilibrium in the region, imposes an "eternal peace" that saves the Gepids; it will be observed for ten years, surviving both Thurisind and Audoin.
It may be on this occasion, and not before the war, that Lombards and Gepids sent troops to Narses as part of the peace treaty imposed by Constantinople.
In this interpretation, the small number of Gepid warriors sent could be explained with the heavy losses taken in the war and the resentment felt towards Justinian.
The Emperor also imposes some territorial concessions on Thurisind, obligating him to return Dacia Ripensis and the territory of Singidunum.
To reach a complete peace Thurisind has first to deal with Ildigis, who had found hospitality at Thurisind's court.
Audoin demands yet again to have him turned in, and Justinian joins in the request.
Thurisind, despite his reluctance to resume the war with both Audoin and Justinian, does not want to openly breach the rules of hospitality and thus tries to evade the request by demanding in his turn to have Ostrogotha given to him; in the end, to avoid both openly giving in and at the same time renewing the war, both kings murder their respective guests but keep secret their involvement in the act.