Editing Valens (section)

=== Usurpation of Procopius (365–366) ===
Recent tax increases,<ref name=":8">{{Citation|last1=Bond|first1=Sarah|title=Procopius|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-3882|work=The Oxford Dictionary of Late Antiquity|year=2018|editor-last=Nicholson|editor-first=Oliver|publisher=Oxford University Press|doi=10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001|isbn=978-0-19-866277-8|access-date=2020-10-28|last2=Haarer|first2=Fiona|archive-date=31 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201031191045/https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780198662778.001.0001/acref-9780198662778-e-3882|url-status=live}}</ref> and Valens' dismissal of Julian's popular minister [[Salutius]], contributed to a general disaffection and to the acceptability of a revolution.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=850–852}} With the emperor absent from the imperial city, [[Procopius (usurper)|Procopius]], a maternal cousin of Julian, declared himself ''augustus'' on 28 September 365.{{sfn|Curran|1998|p=89}}{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=42}} Procopius had held office under Constantius II and Julian{{sfn|Hughes|2013|p=39}} and was rumored to have been Julian's intended successor,{{sfn|Curran|1998|p=89}} despite how he had died without naming one.{{sfn|Potter|2004|p=518}} Jovian, aside from depriving him of his command, took no measures against this potential rival, but Valentinian regarded Procopius with hostility.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=850}} Procopius met the danger from the new emperors with his own bid for power, emphasizing his connection to the revered [[Constantinian Dynasty]]: during his public appearances he was always accompanied by Constantia, the posthumous daughter of Constantius II, and her mother [[Faustina (wife of Constantius II)|Faustina]], the [[dowager]] empress.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013}}

News of the revolt reached Valens at Caesarea ([[Kayseri]]) in Cappadocia,<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Lenski|first1=Noel Emmanuel|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uvXo39xOV8kC&pg=PA88|title=Failure of empire: Valens and the Roman state in the fourth century A.D. |last2=Lenski |first2=Noel Emmanuel |date=2002 |publisher=University of California Press |isbn=978-0-520-23332-4}}</ref> after most of his troops had already crossed the [[Cilician Gates]] into [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]]. His first reaction was despair, and he considered abdication and perhaps even suicide.{{sfn|Lenski|1997}} Procopius quickly gained control of the provinces of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]] and [[Bithynia]], winning increasing support for his insurrection. Valens recovered his nerve and sent an army to Constantinople; according to Ammianus Marcellinus, the soldiers defected to Procopius, whose use of his Constantinian hostages had met with some success.{{sfn|McEvoy|2013}}<ref name=":8" />

Having reappointed Salutius, Valens dispatched more troops under veteran generals, [[Arinthaeus]] and [[Arbitio]], to march on Procopius.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=852–853}} According to Ammianus Marcellinus and the later Greek historians Socrates Scholasticus and [[Sozomen]], the forces of Valens eventually prevailed after eight months, defeating Procopius in battles at [[Battle of Thyatira|Thyatira]] and [[Nacoleia]].{{sfn|Kienast|2017|pp=316–318, "Valens"}}<ref name=":8" /> On both occasions, Procopius was deserted by his own following in fear of their adversaries' formidable commanders. Put on trial by members of his own escort, Procopius was executed on 27 May 366.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=853–854}} Ammianus Marcellinus relates that Procopius' relative [[Marcellus (usurper)|Marcellus]] was proclaimed emperor in his place, but according to Zosimus he was swiftly captured and executed.{{sfn|Kienast|2017|pp=316–318, "Valens"}} Valens could turn his attention back to external enemies, the [[Sasanian Empire]] and the [[Goths]].<ref name=":1" />
[[File:Valenscng85001223.jpg|thumb|Coin of Valens after his ''quinquennalia'' on 25 February 369, showing the three reigning emperors on the reverse marked: {{Smallcaps|spes {{abbreviation|r p|REI PUBLICAE}}}} ("''the hope of the Republic''")]]