The New International Encyclopædia/Teja

​TE′JA, or TEIAS. The last King of the Ostrogoths. He was chosen King after the death of Totila (q.v.) who fell in battle against the Byzantines under Narses, at Tadino, A.D. 552. The Gothic kingdom received its death blow in that battle and it was left to Teja only to prolong the hopeless struggle. He sought to gain the aid of the Frankish King Theudebald, but failed. While marching to the relief of Cumæ he was met by the Imperial army under Narses and thereupon took up an impregnable position near the foot of Mount Vesuvius, where the Goths were invested by the enemy. After two months want of food compelled the Goths to abandon their position and they retired to the Lactavan Hill, whence they made a desperate onslaught on the Romans. In the two days’ battle Teja perished after performing wonderful deeds of valor (553). The remnant of the Goths were permitted to leave Italy. See Goths.

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