Editing Fritigern (section)

==Conflicts against Athanaric==

The earliest references to Fritigern concern the period between 
the attack on the [[Thervings|Thervingi]] by [[Valens]]  (367/9) and 
the [[Huns|Hunnic]] raids on the Thervingi (ca. 376). 
In this time, a civil war may have broken out between Fritigern and [[Athanaric]], a prominent Therving ruler. 
The conflict between Fritigern and Athanaric is mentioned by 
[[Socrates Scholasticus]], [[Sozomen]], and [[Zosimus (historian)|Zosimus]],<ref>Socrates Scholasticus, ''Church History'', book 4, chapter 33;
Sozomen, ''Church History'', book 6, chapter 37;
Zosimus, ''Historia Nova'', book 4.</ref> but not by [[Ammianus Marcellinus]] and [[Philostorgius]].
Before or during this civil war, Fritigern converted to  [[Arianism|Arian Christianity]]. 
Athanaric's [[Gothic persecution of Christians|persecution of Christians]] mentioned by Sozomen, falls into this period.
Athanaric seems to have won this war, as he  later led the Thervingi in battle against the Huns in 376.{{sfn|Heather|2012|pp=159–60}}

According to Socrates, Fritigern and Athanaric were rival leaders of the (Therving) Goths. As this rivalry grew into warfare, Athanaric gained the advantage, and Fritigern asked for Roman aid. The Emperor Valens and the Thracian field army intervened, Valens and Fritigern defeated Athanaric, and Fritigern converted to Christianity, following the same teachings as Valens.<ref>Socrates Scholasticus, ''Church History'', book 4, chapter 33.</ref> Sozomen follows Socrates' account.<ref>Sozomen, ''Church History'', book 6, chapter 37.</ref>
According to Zosimus, Athanaric (Athomaricus) was the king of the Goths (Scythians). Sometime after their victory at Adrianople, and after the accession of Theodosius, Fritigern, [[Alatheus]], and Saphrax moved north of the Danube and defeated Athanaric, before returning south of the Danube.<ref>Zosimus, ''Historia Nova'', book 4.</ref>