[1][2][4] Earlier, when John took Ariminum, he had bypassed Auximus and Urbinus which would have to be taken now to secure the road to Ravenna.
[1][2] The Gothic king, Witigis, had sent a man called Moras[1][4] with 2.000 troops[1][2] to defend the city.
[1] The forces of Narses and John, other Byzantine commanders, who were undermining Belisarius' authority,[1][3][5][6] joined him in this venture.
[1][3] Thinking the defenders would be terrified on seeing the Byzantine army, Belisarius sent envoys offering the garrison a chance to surrender.
[4] Narses and John set up camp separately form Belisarius, on the other side of the town, and, after negotiations with the garrison failed, totally abandoned the siege.