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Flaviy ValentRoman Emperor from 364 to 378.
Country:
 Italy |
Content:
- Valens: A Reign of Treachery and Terror
- Suppression of the Procopius Rebellion
- Tyrannical Reign
- Conflict with the Goths
- The Antiochan Conspiracy
- Gothic Invasion and Death
Valens: A Reign of Treachery and Terror
Early Life and AscensionValens Flavius, born in 328 AD, was the younger brother of emperor Valentinian I. In 364 AD, after Valentinian's election, he proclaimed Valens Augustus and entrusted him with the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire, while he took charge of the western provinces.
Suppression of the Procopius Rebellion
In spring of 364 AD, Valens' reign was marred by a rebellion led by Procopius, a distant relative of previous emperors. Deeply shaken, Valens considered abdicating, but his advisors dissuaded him. Procopius's revolt quickly gained momentum, but in early 365 AD, it was abruptly suppressed without significant bloodshed when Procopius's legions defected to Valens' side.
Tyrannical Reign
Despite his initial leniency, Valens' victory fueled a reign of terror against those involved in the rebellion. Relentless persecution and brutal punishments became commonplace, sparing neither age nor status. Mass trials and executions left society reeling in fear, horrified by a "victory" more devastating than defeat.
Conflict with the Goths
In 367 AD, Valens turned his attention to the Goths, who had supported Procopius. Over the next three years, he engaged in numerous skirmishes along the Danube, eventually negotiating a peace treaty in 371 AD.
The Antiochan Conspiracy
In 371 AD, while preparing to resist a Persian invasion, Valens narrowly escaped an assassination plot orchestrated by notary Theodore. A subsequent investigation resulted in countless torture sessions and executions. Driven by his relentless cruelty, Valens indiscriminately targeted both the guilty and innocent, presuming guilt before evidence was presented.
Gothic Invasion and Death
In 375 AD, the first signs of impending disaster emerged in the east. The Goths, displaced by the Huns, sought refuge within Roman borders. Initially granted asylum in Thrace, they soon revolted after enduring oppressive treatment. Desperate to suppress the rebellion, Valens marched to Constantinople in 378 AD and faced the Goths at the Battle of Adrianople.
Overconfident and eager for glory, Valens refused to wait for reinforcements from his nephew Gratian. In the ensuing battle, the Gothic cavalry routed the Roman cavalry, leaving the infantry vulnerable. Despite valiant resistance, the Roman lines were breached, and the army was routed. Valens himself was reportedly wounded and abandoned, eventually surrendering his life to his attackers.
