Editing Valens (section)

=== Battle of Adrianople ===
{{Main|Battle of Adrianople}}
According to the Latin historians Ammianus Marcellinus and [[Paulus Orosius]], on 9 August 378, Valens and most of his army were killed fighting the Goths near Hadrianopolis in Thrace (Adrianople, [[Edirne]]).<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Ammianus is the primary source for the battle.<ref>''Historiae'', 31.12–13.</ref>

Valens opened the campaign with arrangements aimed at building his troop strength and gaining a toehold in Thrace, then moved out to Adrianople, from whence he marched against the confederated barbarian army. Although negotiations were attempted, these broke down when a Roman unit sallied forth and carried both sides into battle. Valens had left a sizeable guard with his baggage and treasures, depleting his force. His right cavalry wing arrived at the Gothic camp sometime before the left wing arrived. It was a very hot day and the Roman cavalry was engaged without strategic support, wasting its efforts and suffering in the heat.
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Meanwhile, Fritigern once again sent an emissary of peace in his continued manipulation of the situation. The resultant delay meant that the Romans present on the field began to succumb to the heat. The army's resources were further diminished when an ill-timed attack by the Roman archers made it necessary to recall Valens' emissary, ''comes'' Richomeres. The archers were beaten and retreated in humiliation. Returning from foraging to find the battle in full swing, Gothic cavalry under the command of Alatheus and Saphrax now struck and, in what was probably the most decisive event of the battle, the Roman cavalry fled.

From here, Ammianus gives two accounts of Valens' demise. In the first account, Ammianus states that Valens was "mortally wounded by an arrow, and presently breathed his last breath" (XXXI.12). His body was never found or given a proper burial. In the second account, Ammianus states the Roman infantry was abandoned, surrounded and cut to pieces. Valens was wounded and carried to a small wooden hut. He died when the Goths, evidently unaware of the prize within, set the hut on fire (XXXI.13.14–16).

A third, apocryphal, account states that Valens was struck in the face by a Gothic dart and then perished while leading a charge. He wore no helmet, in order to encourage his men. This action turned the tide of the battle which resulted in a [[tactical victory]] but a strategic loss. The church historian [[Socrates of Constantinople|Socrates]] likewise gives two accounts for the death of Valens.

<blockquote>Some have asserted that he was burnt to death in a village whither he had retired, which the barbarians assaulted and set on fire. But others affirm that having put off his imperial robe he ran into the midst of the main body of infantry; and that when the cavalry revolted and refused to engage, the infantry were surrounded by the barbarians, and completely destroyed in a body. Among these it is said the Emperor fell, but could not be distinguished, in consequence of his not having on his imperial habit.<ref>{{cite book |title=The Ecclesiastical History |volume=VI.38 |url=http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.ii.vii.xxxviii.html |access-date=6 March 2009 |archive-date=31 December 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141231223026/http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf202.ii.vii.xxxviii.html |url-status=live }}</ref></blockquote>

When the battle was over, two-thirds of the eastern army lay dead. Many of their best officers had also perished. What was left of the army of Valens was led from the field under the cover of night by ''comes'' Richomeres and general Victor.

[[J. B. Bury]], a noted historian of the period, provides a specific interpretation on the significance of the battle: it was "a disaster and disgrace that need not have occurred."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rbedrosian.com/Ref/Bury/ieb4.htm |title=The Invasion of Europe by the Barbarians |last=Bury |first=John Bagnell |access-date=15 February 2022}}</ref>

For Rome, the battle incapacitated the government. Emperor Gratian, nineteen years old, was unable to deal with the catastrophe, until he appointed [[Theodosius I]]. The total defeat cost the administration important precious metal resources, as bullion had been centralized with the imperial court.<ref name=":1" /> Valens was [[Imperial cult of ancient Rome|deified]] by ''consecratio'' as {{Langx|la|Divus Valens|links=no|lit=the Divine Valens}}.{{sfn|Kienast|2017|pp=316–318, "Valens"}}