Editing Valens (section)

== Assessment and legacy ==
[[File:The Roman emperor Valens pours money into a coffer; an offic Wellcome V0007640EBR.jpg|thumb|The Roman emperor Valens pours money into a coffer, etching by C. Murer after himself, c. 1600–1614.]]
"Valens was utterly undistinguished, still only a ''protector'', and possessed no military ability: he betrayed his consciousness of inferiority by his nervous suspicion of plots and savage punishment of alleged traitors," writes [[A. H. M. Jones]], a modern historian. But Jones admits that "he was a conscientious administrator, careful of the interests of the humble. Like his brother, he was an earnest Christian."{{sfn|Jones|1964|p=139}} According to [[Edward Gibbon]] (c. 1776–1789), Valens diminished the oppressive burden of the taxes which had been instituted by Constantine and his sons, and was humbly deferential to Valentinian's edicts of reform, as with the institution of ''Defensors'' (a sort of substitute for the ancient [[Tribunes]], guardians of the lower classes).{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=856}} Gibbon continues that his moderation and chastity in his private life were everywhere celebrated.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=858}} At the same time, continuous proscriptions and executions, originating in his weak and fearful disposition, disgraced the dozen years of his reign. "An anxious regard to his personal safety was the ruling principle of the administration of Valens", writes Gibbon.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=857}} To have died in so inglorious a battle has thus come to be regarded as the nadir of an unfortunate career. This is especially true because of the profound consequences of Valens' defeat. Adrianople spelled the beginning of the end for Roman territorial integrity in the late Empire and this fact was recognized even by contemporaries. Ammianus understood that it was the worst defeat in Roman history since the [[Battle of Edessa]], and [[Tyrannius Rufinus|Rufinus]] called it "the beginning of evils for the Roman empire then and thereafter."

Valens is also credited with the commission of a short history of the Roman State. This work, produced by Valens' secretary [[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], and known by the name ''Breviarium ab Urbe condita'', tells the story of Rome from its founding. According to some historians, Valens was motivated by the necessity of learning Roman history, that he, the royal family, and their appointees might better mix with the Roman senatorial class.<ref>[[Eutropius (historian)|Eutropius]], ''Breviarium'', ed. H. W. Bird, Liverpool University Press, 1993, p. xix.</ref>

===Religious policy===
[[File:The Mass of Saint Basil MET DP151176.jpg|thumb|The Mass of Saint Basil by [[Pierre Subleyras]], ca. 1743]]
During his reign, Valens had to confront the theological diversity that was beginning to create division in the Empire. [[Julian the Apostate|Julian]] (361–363), had tried to revive the pagan religions. His reactionary attempt took advantage of the dissensions among the different Christian factions, and a largely Pagan [[Military history of the Roman Empire|rank and file military]]. However, in spite of broad support, his actions were often viewed as excessive, and before he died in a campaign against the Persians, he was often treated with disdain. His death was considered a sign from the Christian God.

Valens was baptised by the Arian [[bishop of Constantinople]] before he set out on his first war against the [[Goths]].{{sfn |Gibbon|1932|loc= [http://www.ccel.org/g/gibbon/decline/volume1/chap25.htm Chapter 25]}} While the Nicene Christian writers of his time identified Valens with the [[Arianism|Arian]] faction and accused him of persecuting Nicene Christians, modern historians have described both Valens and [[Valentinian I]] as primarily interested in maintaining social order and have minimized their theological concerns.{{sfn|Day|Hakola|Kahlos|Tervahauta|2016|pp=28f}} Although [[Athanasius]] was impelled, under his reign, to briefly go into hiding, Valens maintained a close dependency on his brother Valentinian and treated [[Basil of Caesarea|St. Basil]] mildly, both of whom supported the Nicene position.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=861–864}} Not long after Valens died the cause of Arianism in the Roman East was to come to an end. His successor [[Theodosius I]] made Nicene Christianity the state religion of Rome and suppressed the Arians.

===Appearance===
The coin portraits of Valentinian and Valens give the faces of both emperors "heavy features", rendered with "no animation, and little consistency".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kent |first1=J. P. C. |last2=Hirmer |first2=Max |last3=Hirmer |first3=Albert |title=Roman Coins |date=1978 |publisher=Thames and Hudson |location=London |isbn=0-500-23273-3 |page=57}}</ref> Toward the end of his ''Res Gestae'' (XXXI.14.7), Ammianus says that Valens was physically compact, dark-complected, and of average height, "[[Genu valgum|knock-kneed]], and somewhat [[Abdominal obesity|pot-bellied]]", and had a "dimmed" pupil in one eye (the translator John C. Rolfe suggests that this is a description of a [[cataract]]).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Marcellinus |first1=Ammianus |translator-last1=Rolfe |translator-first1=John C. |title=Loeb Classical Library: Ammianus Marcellinus, III |date=1972 |publisher=Harvard University Press and William Heinemann Ltd. |location=Cambridge, MA, and London |isbn=0-674-99365-9 |pages=486–487}}</ref>