Teia (503-553) was King of the Ostrogoths from 552 to 553, succeeding Totila; he was the last ruler of the Ostrogothic Kingdom before its destruction at the Battle of Mons Lactarius, during which Teia was killed.
Biography[]
Teia was born in 503 AD, the brother of Aligern, and he served as a military officer under Totila before being chosen as his successor. He was acclaimed emperor by being raised on his men's shields after Totila's death at the Battle of Taginae in 552, and he gathered prominent supporters from Totila's armies before making his last stand against the Byzantine general Narses south of Naples in 553. He was slain at the ensuing Battle of Mons Lactarius.