The life of Valens
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Flavius Iulius Valens
Imperator Caesar Flavius Iulius Valens Augustus 328 - Sirmium, Pannonia 9 August, 378 - Adrianople (aged 50) Murdered 28 March, 364 – 9 August, 378 (14 years, 4 months) Valentinian I, Gratian, Valentinian II Valentinian Valentinian I Theodosius I |
Early Life & Accession to the Throne
Flavius Iulius Valens was born in the year 328 in Sirmium, Pannonia. He was the younger brother of Valentinian I. He and his brother grew up together and moved about during their youth while their father, Gratian the Elder, was on military campaigns in Britain and Africa. It is unclear what Valens did during his youth, he appears to have held no political or military offices.
In February 364 his brother Valentinian succeeded Jovian as the Emperor of Rome, thanks to the support of the military. It had long been thought that the Roman Empire was too large for one ruler alone, and Valentinian was no exception to this school of thought. Valentinian decided upon Valens to be his co-emperor, giving him dominion over the East. For such a demanding position Valentinian must have had faith in his brother, despite the apparent lack of experience held by Valens. Valens officially took the role on 28 March 364. After a brief tour of the empire with his brother, Valens journeyed to Constantinople which he intended to use as his capital.
During his early reign Valens was forced to put down a rebellion by the uncle of Jovian, Procopius, who had two legions backing his claim to the throne. Procopius barred the gates of Constantinople and even began to mint his own coins. Procopius continued to gain momentum and support and at one point Valens even considered abdicating himself. However his military commanders were intent on routing the usurper, and successfully defeated him at the Battle of Thyatira in 366. Following the defeat, Procopius was abandoned by his supporters and eventually executed.
In February 364 his brother Valentinian succeeded Jovian as the Emperor of Rome, thanks to the support of the military. It had long been thought that the Roman Empire was too large for one ruler alone, and Valentinian was no exception to this school of thought. Valentinian decided upon Valens to be his co-emperor, giving him dominion over the East. For such a demanding position Valentinian must have had faith in his brother, despite the apparent lack of experience held by Valens. Valens officially took the role on 28 March 364. After a brief tour of the empire with his brother, Valens journeyed to Constantinople which he intended to use as his capital.
During his early reign Valens was forced to put down a rebellion by the uncle of Jovian, Procopius, who had two legions backing his claim to the throne. Procopius barred the gates of Constantinople and even began to mint his own coins. Procopius continued to gain momentum and support and at one point Valens even considered abdicating himself. However his military commanders were intent on routing the usurper, and successfully defeated him at the Battle of Thyatira in 366. Following the defeat, Procopius was abandoned by his supporters and eventually executed.
Gothic Invasion
While Valentinian faced threats from the Alemanni in the West, Valens had to content with threats from the Gothic tribes. The main threat came from King Ermanaric who invaded Thrace with a 30,000 strong army with the aim of aiding Procopius. When the Goths learned of Procopius' demise they continued their invasion anyway, and began to ravage the countryside.
Valens launched an initial counter-campaign against the Goths in the Carpathian Mountains, but it resulted in no victory for either side. The next year the Danube flooded, giving Valens time to commission the building of a series of fortifications across the Danube to deter further attack. In 369 Valens was able to cross the river and attacked the Goth's territory. Athanaric was forced into a confrontation with Valens where he was defeated. Following the battle a peace treaty was declared, and both factions withdrew to their own territory. In addition, relations between the two were virtually cut off following the peace agreement.
Valens launched an initial counter-campaign against the Goths in the Carpathian Mountains, but it resulted in no victory for either side. The next year the Danube flooded, giving Valens time to commission the building of a series of fortifications across the Danube to deter further attack. In 369 Valens was able to cross the river and attacked the Goth's territory. Athanaric was forced into a confrontation with Valens where he was defeated. Following the battle a peace treaty was declared, and both factions withdrew to their own territory. In addition, relations between the two were virtually cut off following the peace agreement.
Sassanid War
With the Gothic threat temporarily neutralised, Valens could look to the East where relations had been deteriorating for some time. The Roman Empire and the Sassanids had been at odds for centuries and the most recent conflict sparked by the emperor Jovian who had ended up being forced to cede Armedia to the Sassanids in 363. The Sassanids had put many of the settlements and towns in Armenia to the torch, leading some to flee to Valens for aid. Valens helped install Papas, the heir to the Armenian throne, as king once more. However this invited retaliation from the Sassanid king, Shapur. In 371 Shapur's forces met the army of Valens at Bagavan, with Valens emerging as the victor. Following the battle a truce was declared between the two empires.
Problems occurred later on when Valens had Papas executed for stirring up trouble in the region by making increasingly outrageous demands to the Roman Empire, threatening to defect to Persia if they did not comply. After ridding himself of Pampas, Valens installed Varasdates as the new king of Armenia, who had a better track record of remaining loyal to Rome.
If Valens ever planned to launch an eastern campaign, it would never be realised. He was instead pre-occupied with uprisings in Cilicia, Phoenicia and Palestine where were all successfully quelled in turn. However it meant he had to divert soldiers and resources away from the eastern front. Further problems arose when Valentinian I died on 17 November 375, leaving Valens as the sole emperor briefly, until his nephews Gratian and Valentinian II could take over from their father.
Problems occurred later on when Valens had Papas executed for stirring up trouble in the region by making increasingly outrageous demands to the Roman Empire, threatening to defect to Persia if they did not comply. After ridding himself of Pampas, Valens installed Varasdates as the new king of Armenia, who had a better track record of remaining loyal to Rome.
If Valens ever planned to launch an eastern campaign, it would never be realised. He was instead pre-occupied with uprisings in Cilicia, Phoenicia and Palestine where were all successfully quelled in turn. However it meant he had to divert soldiers and resources away from the eastern front. Further problems arose when Valentinian I died on 17 November 375, leaving Valens as the sole emperor briefly, until his nephews Gratian and Valentinian II could take over from their father.
Barbarian Invasion
Valens would soon face new threats when Goths crossed the Danube to escape the invasion of the Huns. The Visigoths sought aid from Valens, who realised he could use the fleeing Goths to add to his own depleted army. However, they were soon followed across the Danube by Ostrogoths and Huns in great numbers, unable to be stopped by the garrisons defending the river.
Tensions arose in 377 between the Goths who had settled in Macrianople and it's local inhabitants, resulting in a revolt which ended with the governor of the city being overthrown. These disgruntled Goths formed an alliance with the Ostrogoths and began to ravage the countryside. They met Roman forces at the Battle of the Willows in Moesia, where they suffered a temporary setback by Valens' generals. The Goths were soon joined by more Huns who crossed the Danube to invade Roman lands. In 378 Valens rushed to meet the invaders, but was convinced by his generals to await further reinforcements from Gratian in the West, who had promised numerous troops to stop the growing barbarian threat.
However it was not long before Valens was forced into action by the demands of the people of Constantinople, who wanted the threat of the Goths and Huns eliminated once and for all. Valens felt he had to prove himself as a capable leader, rather than hiding behind walls for his young nephew to aid him, and so he rode out to meet the invaders.
Tensions arose in 377 between the Goths who had settled in Macrianople and it's local inhabitants, resulting in a revolt which ended with the governor of the city being overthrown. These disgruntled Goths formed an alliance with the Ostrogoths and began to ravage the countryside. They met Roman forces at the Battle of the Willows in Moesia, where they suffered a temporary setback by Valens' generals. The Goths were soon joined by more Huns who crossed the Danube to invade Roman lands. In 378 Valens rushed to meet the invaders, but was convinced by his generals to await further reinforcements from Gratian in the West, who had promised numerous troops to stop the growing barbarian threat.
However it was not long before Valens was forced into action by the demands of the people of Constantinople, who wanted the threat of the Goths and Huns eliminated once and for all. Valens felt he had to prove himself as a capable leader, rather than hiding behind walls for his young nephew to aid him, and so he rode out to meet the invaders.
Battle of Adrianople
The tensions between the Roman Empire and the united barbarian tribes erupted at the Battle of Adrianople on 9 August 378. Valens had dismissed pleas to wait for Gratian and instead met the barbarians in open battle. The battle was initially evenly matched, but the Romans were taken by surprise when Visigoth cavalry reinforcements arrived and flanked them.
To make matters worse for Valens, his army arrived at the battle at different times. Half of his cavalry was not present when the battle begun, only arriving later when the battle has possibly already been lost. For the most part, the Romans were disorganised, with certain detachments attacking at inopportune times and being forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. Upon realising the battle was not going well, the Roman cavalry fled the battle - sealing the fate of Valens and what remained of his forces.
To make matters worse for Valens, his army arrived at the battle at different times. Half of his cavalry was not present when the battle begun, only arriving later when the battle has possibly already been lost. For the most part, the Romans were disorganised, with certain detachments attacking at inopportune times and being forced to retreat after suffering heavy losses. Upon realising the battle was not going well, the Roman cavalry fled the battle - sealing the fate of Valens and what remained of his forces.
Death & Legacy
Valens died during the Battle of Adrianople, possibly due to archer fire or being burned alive by the Goths. His body was never recovered by Rome, and thus he was never given an official burial.
Following the battle only one third of the Eastern Roman army survived and were spirited away from the battle by General Victor, one of the few remaining senior ranking officers left. The battle had been a disaster, poorly planned and resulted in the death of an emperor. Valens was succeeded as Eastern Roman Emperor by the General Theodosius, who would also be the last Roman Emperor to rule over both halves of the empire. The Valentinian Dynasty itself survived through Gratian and Valentinian II, although they would not long outlive Valens.
Theodosius would eventually bring the situation in the East under control and avenge Valens' death.
Following the battle only one third of the Eastern Roman army survived and were spirited away from the battle by General Victor, one of the few remaining senior ranking officers left. The battle had been a disaster, poorly planned and resulted in the death of an emperor. Valens was succeeded as Eastern Roman Emperor by the General Theodosius, who would also be the last Roman Emperor to rule over both halves of the empire. The Valentinian Dynasty itself survived through Gratian and Valentinian II, although they would not long outlive Valens.
Theodosius would eventually bring the situation in the East under control and avenge Valens' death.
Trivia
- The exact nature of Valens' death is unknown. There are different suggestions put forth by historians. Ammianus claims Valens was mortally wounded by an arrow, but then taken to a tent by his soldiers which was then set ablaze by Goths. Socrates says Valens fled to a village, which was put to the flame, or that he was killed in combat by the pursuing invaders. Whatever the truth, his body was never found and he was given no burial.