Battle of Adrianople
Part of Gothic War (376–382)
Date August 9, 378 Location Near Adrianople Result Decisive Gothic victory
Combatants
Eastern Roman Empire	Goths
Commanders
Valens †	Fritigern, Alatheus, Saphrax
Strength
15,000–30,000	10,000–20,000
Casualties
10,000–20,000	Unknown

The second Battle of Adrianople (August 9, 378), sometimes known as the Battle of Hadrianopolis, was fought between a Roman army led by the Roman Emperor Valens and Gothic rebels (largely Thervings as well as Greutungs, non-Gothic Alans, and various local rebels) led by Fritigern. The battle took place near Adrianople and ended with an overwhelming victory for the Goths.^[1][2] Combatants Roman Empire Goths, local rebels, Alanic raiders, Hunnish raiders Commanders Valens, Theodosius Fritigern, Alatheus, Saphrax, Farnobius See also Gothic War (535–552) for the war in Italy. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 543 pixels Full resolution (910 × 618 pixel, file size: 105 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Battle of Adrianople ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Mid-February: Lentienses cross frozen Rhine, invading Roman Empire. ... Edirne is a city in (Thrace), the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Byzantine Empire. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... Solidus minted by Valens in 376. ... Temporary grave of an American machine-gunner during the Battle of Normandy. ... Frithugairns (Gothic for desiring peace) or Fritigern (died ca. ... Alatheus (?-387) was an Ostrogothic chieftain and general. ... Saphrax (? - c. ... Combatants Roman Empire Goths, local rebels, Alanic raiders, Hunnish raiders Commanders Valens, Theodosius Fritigern, Alatheus, Saphrax, Farnobius See also Gothic War (535–552) for the war in Italy. ... Combatants Roman Empire Goths Commanders Trajanus, Profuturus, Richomeres possibly Fritigern, other Gothic leaders Strength unknown unknown Casualties many many The Battle of the Willows (377) took place at a place called ad Salices (town by the willows), or according to Roman records, a road way-station called Ad Salices (By... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Events Mid-February: Lentienses cross frozen Rhine, invading Roman Empire. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus (SPQR) The Roman Empire at its greatest extent. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Solidus minted by Valens in 376. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... The Thervingi were a Gothic people of the Danubian plains west of the Dnestr River in the 3rd and 4th Centuries CE. They had close contacts with the Greuthungi, another Gothic people from east of the Dnestr River, as well as the Late Roman Empire (or early Byzantine Empire). ... This article deals with the continental Ostrogoths. ... The Alans, Alani, Alauni or Halani were an Iranian nomadic group among the Sarmatian people, warlike nomadic pastoralists of varied backgrounds, who spoke an Iranian language and to a large extent shared a common culture. ... Frithugairns (Gothic for desiring peace) or Fritigern (died ca. ... Edirne is a city in (Thrace), the westernmost part of Turkey, close to the borders with Greece and Bulgaria. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ...

Part of the Gothic War (376–382), the battle is often considered the start of the final collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century. Ironically, Adrianople actually was fought between the Goths and the Eastern Roman Empire, which ultimately withstood the Gothic invasions and developed into the Byzantine Emmpire. .^[3] Combatants Roman Empire Goths, local rebels, Alanic raiders, Hunnish raiders Commanders Valens, Theodosius Fritigern, Alatheus, Saphrax, Farnobius See also Gothic War (535–552) for the war in Italy. ... Romulus Augustus was deposed as Western Roman Emperor in 476 while still young. ... Motto Senatus Populusque Romanus The Western Roman Empire in 395. ... Europe in 450 The 5th century is the period from 401 to 500 in accordance with the Julian calendar in the Christian Era. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Byzantine Empire. ...

Background

In 376, displaced by the invasions of the Huns, the Goths, led by Alavivus and Fritigern, asked to be allowed to settle in the Roman Empire. Hoping that they would become farmers and soldiers, the emperor Valens allowed them to establish themselves in the Empire as allies (foederati). However, once across the Danube (and in Roman territory), the dishonesty of the provincial commanders Lupicinus and Maximus led the newcomers to revolt after suffering many hardships. Valens (of the eastern empire) then asked Gratian, the western emperor, for reinforcements to fight the Goths. Gratian sent the general Frigeridus with reinforcements, as well as the leader of his guards, Richomeres. For the next two years preceding the battle of Adrianople there were a series of running battles with no clear victories for either side.^[4] Events Visigoths appear on the Danube and request entry into the Roman Empire in their flight from the Huns Births Cyril of Alexandria, theologian Deaths Categories: 376 ... The Huns were an early confederation of Central Asian equestrian nomads or semi-nomads. ... Invasion of the Goths: a late 19th century painting by O. Fritsche, is a highly romanticized portrait of the Goths as cavalrymen. ... Solidus minted by Valens in 376. ... Foederatus early in the history of the Roman Republic identified one of the tribes bound by treaty (foedus), who were neither Roman colonies nor had they been granted Roman citizenship (civitas) but were expected to provide a contingent of fighting men when trouble arose. ... The Danube (ancient Danuvius, Iranian *dānu, meaning river or stream, ancient Greek Istros) is the longest river in the European Union and Europes second longest river. ... Lupicinus was a Roman lieutenant of Valens in Thrace in the late fourth century AD.[1] ^ [http://visbellica. ... A coin of Gratian. ... Renatus Profuturus Frigeridus was a fifth century historian whose work, which exists today only in fragments, once consisted of twelve volumes or more. ... Flavius Richomeres (Richomer) was a Frank that lived in the late 4th century. ...

In 378, Valens decided to take control himself. Valens would bring more troops from Syria and Gratian would bring more troops from Gaul.^[5] Events Mid-February: Lentienses cross frozen Rhine, invading Roman Empire. ... Gaul (Latin: ) was the name given,in ancient times, to the region of Western Europe comprising present-day northern Italy, France, Belgium, western Switzerland and the parts of the Netherlands and Germany on the west bank of the Rhine river. ...

Valens left Antioch for Constantinople, and arrived on the 30th of May. He appointed Sebastianus, newly-arrived from Italy, to reorganize the Roman armies already in Thrace. Sebastianus picked 2,000 of his legionaries and marched towards Adrianople. They ambushed some small Gothic detachments. Fritigern assembled the Gothic forces at Nicopolis and Beroe to deal with this Roman threat.^[6][7][2] It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Antakya. ... Map of Constantinople. ... Sebastianus, a brother of Jovinus, was an aristocrat of southern Gaul. ... Thracian Tomb of Kazanlak  Thrace (Bulgarian: , Greek: , Attic Greek: ThrāíkÄ“ or ThrēíkÄ“, Latin: , Turkish: ) is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe. ... A Legionary is a member of a legion. ... Nicopolis (meaning in Greek: city of victory; see also List of traditional Greek place names) or Actia Nicopolis was an ancient city of Epirus, founded 31 BC by Octavian in memory of his victory over Antony and Cleopatra at Actium. ... PFK Beroe is a Bulgarian football club from Stara Zagora, founded in 1916. ...

Gratian had sent much of his army to Pannonia when the Lentienses (part of the Alamanni) attacked across the Rhine. Gratian recalled his army and defeated the Lentienses near Argentaria (near modern-day Colmar, France.) After this campaign, Gratian, with part of his field army, went east by boat; the rest of his field army went east overland. The former group arrived at Sirmium in Pannonia and at the Camp of Mars (a fort near the Iron Gates), 400 kilometers from Adrianople, where some Alans attacked them. Gratian's group withdrew to Pannonia shortly thereafter.^[8][2] Position of the Roman province of Pannonia Pannonia is an ancient country bounded north and east by the Danube, conterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia. ... The Lentienses (German Lentienser), were an alamannic Tribe, located in the region between the river Danube in the north, the river Iller in the west and the Lake Constance in the south in today’s south Germany. ... area settled by the Alamanni, and sites of Roman-Alamannic battles, 3rd to 6th century The Alamanni, Allemanni, or Alemanni were originally an alliance of Germanic tribes located around the upper Main, land that is today part of Germany. ... It has been suggested that River Rhine Pollution: November 1986 be merged into this article or section. ... Petite Venise Colmar is a town and commune in the Haut-Rhin département of Alsace, France. ... Ruins of Sirmium Julian solidus, ca. ... The Iron Gate upstream The Iron Gate (Romanian: Porţile de Fier, Serbian: Gvozdena Vrata, Hungarian: Vaskapu, German: Eisernes Tor) is a gorge on the Danube River. ...

After learning of Sebastian's success against the Goths, and of Gratian's victory over the Alamanni, Valens was more than ready for a victory of his own. He brought his army from Melenthias to Adrianople, where he met with Sebastian's force. On August 6, reconnaissance informed Valens that about 10,000 Goths were marching towards Adrianople from the north, about 25 kilometers away. Despite the difficult ground, Valens reached Adrianople where the Roman army fortified its camp with ditch and rampart.^[9] is the 218th day of the year (219th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Richomeres, sent by Gratian, carried a letter asking Valens to wait for the arrival of reinforcements from Gratian before engaging in battle. Valens' officers also recommended that he wait for Gratian, but Valens decided to fight without waiting, ready to claim the ultimate prize.^[9]

The Goths were also watching the Romans, and on August 8, Fritigern sent an emissary to propose a peace and an alliance in exchange for some Roman territory. Sure that he would be victorious due to his supposed numerical superiority, Valens rejected these proposals.^[9] However, his estimates did not take into consideration a part of the Gothic cavalry that had gone to forage further away.^[3] is the 220th day of the year (221st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

Composition of the Roman troops

Valens' army may have included troops from any of three Roman field armies: the Army of Thrace, based in the eastern Balkans, but which may have sustained heavy losses in 376–377, the 1st Army in the Emperors's Presence, and the 2nd Army in the Emperor's Presence, both based at Constantinople in peacetime but committed to the Persian frontier in 376 and sent west in 377–378.^[10][11]

Valens' army was composed of veterans and men accustomed to war. It comprised seven legions ^{[citation needed]} — among which were the Legio I Maximiana and imperial auxiliaries — of 700 to 1000 men each. The cavalry was composed of shield-archers and Scholae (the imperial guard). However, these did not represent the strong point of the army and would flee on the arrival of the Gothic cavalry. There were also squadrons of Arab cavalry, but they were more suited to skirmishes than to pitched battle. ^{[citation needed]} The Roman Legion (from Latin , from lego, legere, legi, lectus — to collect) is a term that can apply both as a transliteration of legio (conscription or army) to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly (and more commonly), to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of... The Legio I Maximiana (of Maximian) was a comitatensis Roman legion, probably created in the year 296 or 297 by the emperor Diocletian. ... Scholae was a Latin word used by the Romans to classify their Imperial Guards. ...

Shield pattern of the Lanciarii seniores, according to Notitia dignitatum.

Image File history File links Lanciarii_iuniores_shield_pattern. ... Image File history File links Lanciarii_iuniores_shield_pattern. ... The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. ...

Strength of Valens' army

Several modern historians have estimated the strength of Valens' army.

Treadgold estimates that, by 395, the Army of Thrace had 24,500 soldiers, while the 1st and 2nd Armies in Emperor's Presence had 21,000 each.^[12] However, all three armies include units either formed (several units of Theodosiani among them) or redeployed (various legions in Thrace) after Adrianople.^[10] Moreover, troops were needed to protect Marcionopolis and other threatened cities, so it is unlikely that all three armies fought together.

Order of battle of Valens' army

It is not possible to precisely list the units of the Roman army at Adrianople. The only sources are Ammianus, who describes the battle but mentions few units by name, and the eastern Notitia Dignitatum, which lists Roman army units in the late 4th to early 5th century, after Theodosius. Many units listed in the Balkans were formed after Adrianople; others were transferred from other parts of the Empire, before or after Adrianople; others are listed in two or more sectors. Some units at Adrianople may have been merged or disbanded due to their losses. The Roman forces likely consisted of heavy infantry, various archers and cavalry.^[13] The Notitia Dignitatum is a unique document of the Roman imperial chanceries. ... An engraving depicting what Theodosius may have looked like, ca. ...

Composition of the Gothic Forces

See also: Gothic and Vandal warfare

There were probably two main Gothic armies south of the Danube. Fritigern led one army, largely recruited from the Therving exiles, while Alatheus and Saphrax led another army, largely recruited from the Greuthung exiles. The Goths, Gepids, Vandals, and Burgundians were East Germanic groups who appear in Roman records in Late Antiquity. ...

Fritigern brought most if not all of his fighters to the battle. Alatheus and Saphrax brought most of their cavalry, and possibly some of their infantry, to the battlefield. The Gothic armies were mostly infantry with some cavalry.

Ammianus records that the Roman scouts estimated 10,000 Gothic troops; but Ammianus dismissed this as an underestimate.^[9] Several modern historians have estimated the strength of the Gothic armies at 12,000–15,000.^[14]

Course of battle

On the morning of August 9, Valens decamped from Adrianople, where he left the imperial treasury and administration under the guard of the legions. The reconnaissance of the preceding days informed him of the location of the Gothic camp north of the city. Valens arrived there after marching for seven hours over difficult terrain. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (545x746, 31 KB) Summary Map of the Battle of Adrianople, 378 From the History Department of the US Military Academy West Point - http://www. ... is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

At around 14:30, the Roman troops arrived in disorder, facing the Gothic camp that had been set up on the top of a hill. The Goths, except for their cavalry, took position in front of their wagon circle, inside of which were their families and possessions. Fritigern's objective was to delay the Romans, in order to give enough time for the Gothic cavalry to return. The fields were burnt by the Goths to delay and harass the Romans with smoke, and negotiations began for an exchange of hostages. The negotiations exasperated the Roman soldiers who seemed to hold the stronger position, but they gained precious time for Fritigern.

A detachment of Romans began the battle without orders to do so, believing they would have an easy victory, and perhaps over-eager to exact revenge on the Goths after two years of unchecked devastation throughout the Balkans. The imperial scholae of shield-archers under the command of the Iberian prince Bacurius attacked, but lacking support they were easily pushed back. Then the Roman left-wing reached the circle of wagons, but it was too late. At that moment, the Gothic cavalry, alerted by messengers from the embattled wagon circle, arrived to support the infantry. The cavalry surrounded the Roman troops, who were already in disarray after the failure of the first assault. The Romans retreated to the base of the hill where they were unable to manoeuvre, encumbered by their heavy armour and long shields. The casualties, exhaustion, and psychological pressure led to a rout of the Roman army. The cavalry continued their attack, and the massacre continued until nightfall. Caucasian Iberia is the term designated to the Kingdom of Iberia (4th century BC–5th century AD) established in Eastern Georgia by the Georgians (Kartvelians). ... A rout is a disorderly withdrawal made by a military force following defeat , a collapse of discipline, or poor morale. ...

Death of Valens and aftermath

In the rout, the Emperor himself was abandoned by his guards. Some tried to retrieve him, but the majority of the cavalry deserted. Valens' final fate is unknown; he probably died anonymously on the field, although one account says he was trapped in a nearby village house and burned.

According to the historian Ammianus Marcellinus, a third of the Roman army succeeded in retreating, but the losses were uncountable. Many officers, among them the general Sebastian, were killed in the worst Roman defeat since the Battle of the Teutoburg Forest, nearly four centuries earlier. The battle was a devastating blow for the late Empire. In effect, the core army of the eastern Empire was destroyed, valuable administrators were killed, and all of the arms factories on the Danube were destroyed following the battle. The lack of reserves for the army led to a recruitment crisis, which accentuated the strategic and morale impact of the defeat. A historian is an individual who studies history and who writes on history. ... Ammianus Marcellinus (325/330-after 391) was a Roman historian who wrote during Late Antiquity. ... Combatants Germanic tribes (Cherusci, Marsi, Chatti, Bructeri and Chauci) Roman Empire Commanders Arminius (Hermann) Publius Quinctilius Varus † Strength Unknown 3 Roman legions, 3 alae and 6 auxiliary cohorts, probably 20,000 - 25,000 Casualties Unknown; but far less than Roman losses 15,000-20,000 The Battle of the Teutoburg...

The battle signified that the barbarians, fighting for or against the Romans, had become powerful adversaries. The crisis that began in 376 was relieved only by negotiations in 382. Theodosius I, Valens' successor, accepted the Goths once more as allies. This compromise left the door open for other Gothic mutinies; but it is also clear that Adrianople did not mark the end of the Roman Empire, because the imperial military power was only temporarily crippled. Events October 3 - Theodosius I commands his general Saturninus to conclude a peace treaty with the Visigoths, allowing them to settle south of the Danube. ... An engraving depicting what Theodosius may have looked like, ca. ...

References

Footnotes

Books

Alessandro Barbero (2007). The Day of the Barbarians: The Battle That Led to the Fall of the Roman Empire. ISBN 0802715710

External links

• Roman Empire - Adrianople 2 April 2007.
• Ammianus Marcellinus's account of the battle
• Valens and the Battle of Adrianople (Hadrianopolis) by N.S. Gill. About.com - Ancient/ Classical History. 2 April 2007.
• Battle of Adrianople: 378 by David W. Koeller. 2003. 2 April 2007.
• Ancient Rome - The Battle of Adrianople, Ammianus Robert A. Guisepi. International World History Project. Reprinting. 2 April 2007.

Ammianus Marcellinus (325/330-after 391) was a Roman historian who wrote during Late Antiquity. ...