He was instrumental in halting the collapse of the Roman empire, if only temporarily. In 530 he defeated the Persians in the east, although they quickly reasserted themselves in Syria. Six years later he conquered Vandal North Africa, capturing its king. In 535–40 he took back Italy from the Ostrogoths, advancing as far north as Ravenna, taking their king prisoner, and followed it with a second Italian campaign a few years later. He took Rome in 549 but was dismissed and even charged with conspiracy by a jealous Justinian, though reinstated in 564.