Editing Valens (section)

=== Second Gothic War: 376–378 ===
{{Main|Gothic War (376–382)}}

Valens' eastern campaign required an ambitious recruitment program, designed to fill gaps left in his mobile forces when troops were transferred to the Western Empire in 374. Meanwhile, migrations of the [[Huns]] began to displace the Goths, who sought Roman protection.<ref name=":1" /> Refugees from the former kingdom of [[Ermanaric]], unable to hold the [[Dniester]] or [[Prut]] rivers against Hunnic invaders, retreated southward in a massive emigration, seeking more defensible lands on the Roman side of the [[Danube]]. In 376, the [[Visigoths]] under their leader [[Fritigern]] advanced to the far shores of the lower Danube and sent requests for asylum to Valens in [[Antioch]].{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=920–923}}

Valens granted permission for a Danube crossing to Fritigern and his followers,<ref name=":1" /> who had allied with the Romans in the 370s against Athanaric's persecution of [[Gothic Christians]], and, it was hoped, could now be hired to bolster the eastern army. The Gothic troops would have to be paid in gold or silver, but their presence would decrease Valens' dependence on conscription from the provinces—thereby increasing revenues from the recruitment tax. Though a number of Gothic groups apparently requested entry, Valens granted admission only to Fritigern's people. Others would soon follow, however.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=925}}

Valens' mobile forces were tied down on the Persian frontier, where the emperor was attempting to withdraw from the harsh terms imposed by Shapur and was meeting some resistance on the latter's part. This meant that only ''[[limitanei]]'' units were present to oversee the arrival of Fritigern and his Goths, to the number of 200,000 warriors and almost a million all told. The sparse imperial troops could not stop subsequent Danube crossings by groups of [[Ostrogoths]], [[Huns]], and [[Alans]], none of whom had been included in the original treaty. The controlled resettlement foreseen by the government threatened to turn into a major invasion, and the situation was worsened by corruption in the local Roman administration. Valens' generals accepted bribes rather than depriving the Goths of their weapons as Valens had stipulated, then enraged the settlers by imposing exorbitant prices for food.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=925–926}} In early 377, the Goths revolted after a commotion with the people of [[Marcianopolis]], and defeated the corrupt Roman governor [[Lupicinus (comes per Thracias)|Lupicinus]] near the city at the [[Battle of Marcianople]].{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=927–928}}

After joining forces with the [[Ostrogoths]] under [[Alatheus and Saphrax]] who had crossed without Valens' consent, the combined barbarian group spread out to devastate the country before combining to meet Roman advance forces under Traianus and [[Richomeres]]. In a sanguinary [[Battle of the Willows|battle at ''Ad Salices'']], the Goths were momentarily checked,{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=931–932}} and [[Saturninus (consul 383)|Saturninus]], now Valens' lieutenant in the province, undertook a strategy of hemming them in between the lower [[Danube]] and the [[Euxine]], hoping to starve them into surrender. However, Fritigern forced him to retreat by inviting some of the [[Huns]] to cross the river in the rear of Saturninus' ranged defenses. The Romans then fell back, incapable of containing the irruption, though with an elite force of his best soldiers the general Sebastian was able to fall upon and destroy several of the smaller predatory bands.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|p=935}}

Valens requested assistance in Thrace from his nephew and co-emperor Gratian, but ultimately took the offensive before Gratian could join him.<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2" /> Leaving behind a skeletal force—some of them Goths—the eastern army withdrew from the frontier, reaching Constantinople by 30 May, 378. The imperial councillors, ''[[comes]]''  Richomeres, the generals [[Frigeridus (general)|Frigeridus]] and [[Victor (magister equitum)|Victor]], and letters from Gratian all cautioned Valens to wait for the arrival of the western army, but the populace of Constantinople became impatient at the delay. Public opinion criticized Valens for failing to control the Goths after inviting them into his territory, and compared him unfavourably with Gratian as a military commander.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=934–935}} Valens decided to advance at once and win a victory on his own.{{sfn|Gibbon|1932|pp=935–936}}
[[File:INC-1867-a Солид. Валент II. Ок. 375—378 гг. (аверс).png|thumb|''Solidus'' of Valens]]