History of Valens

Valens, born in 328 AD, was a Roman emperor who ruled from 364 to 378 AD. He is primarily remembered as a key player during a turbulent period in Roman history, marked by military challenges and religious tensions. Valens' reign is particularly notable for its culmination in the disastrous Battle of Adrianople, which marked a significant turning point in the decline of the Roman Empire.

Valens was born in Cibalae in the Roman province of Pannonia. His family had connections to the imperial court; his older brother, Valentinian I, would also become emperor. Valens' early life, much like many of his era, is not well-documented, but he likely grew up in the environment of a military family, which was instrumental in shaping his later career and focus.

Valens’ ascension to power was largely due to familial connections. His brother Valentinian I, after becoming emperor in 364 AD, recognized the pressing need to manage the vast Roman Empire more effectively and decided to split the responsibilities. Valentinian appointed Valens as co-emperor, assigning him control of the Eastern Roman Empire. This division was a common practice at the time, aimed at administering the empire more efficiently and addressing multiple challenges simultaneously.

Upon ascending to power, Valens faced immediate difficulties. He inherited an Eastern Empire that was economically strained and threatened by external pressures, particularly from the Goths and Persians. His early challenges included managing these external threats and solidifying his rule against internal dissent. Valens' initial years were focused on dealing with these military threats, specifically from the Goths, whom he tried to manage through both diplomacy and military might.

Religiously, Valens was an Arian Christian, adhering to a doctrine that was in conflict with the Nicene Creed, which was the more widely accepted form of Christianity within the empire at the time. This religious inclination put him at odds with a significant portion of the Roman populace, clergy, and his counterpart in the West, his brother Valentinian I, who was a Nicene Christian. The religious discord didn’t lead to an open conflict but strained relations between different religious groups within the empire, presenting another layer of difficulty for Valens’ administration.

Valens’ most famous undertaking came in response to the Gothic War, which began in earnest when the Thervingi, a Gothic group fleeing the Huns, sought refuge within the Roman Empire's borders, across the Danube River in 376 AD. Faced with this influx, Valens decided to allow them to cross the Danube and settle as foederati, or allied people, on Roman lands. However, due to mismanagement and corruption from Roman officials, the Goths were mistreated, leading to discontent and rebellion.

This uprising resulted in several confrontations, culminating in the Battle of Adrianople on August 9, 378 AD. The battle was a catastrophic defeat for the Romans. Valens himself underestimated the Gothic threat and went into battle without waiting for reinforcements from the Western Empire led by his nephew Gratian. This decision proved fatal. The Roman army was overwhelmed, and Valens died on the battlefield, possibly during combat or in the ensuing chaos. The defeat at Adrianople had far-reaching consequences, exposing the vulnerabilities of the Roman military and changing the landscape of Roman-Germanic relations. It signaled that Rome could no longer defend its borders against barbarian invasions effectively.

Valens’ reign, and particularly his end, was pivotal in the history of the Roman Empire. His failure at Adrianople exposed the need for military reform and new strategies in dealing with barbarian groups who were becoming more integrated into the empire's structure. Moreover, his religious policies contributed to the continued tension between different Christian sects within the empire. Despite his efforts to manage these numerous challenges, Valens’ leadership ultimately exemplified the growing difficulties faced by the late Roman Empire in maintaining control over its vast territories and diverse populations.

The legacy of Valens is thus a complex one. He is often critiqued for his military and administrative failures, particularly in the context of the Gothic settlement and the subsequent disaster at Adrianople. Yet, he also reflects the broader struggles of a Roman Empire trying to navigate a world increasingly characterized by internal and external pressures. His reign is a significant chapter in the late Roman Empire's narrative, illustrating the shifting dynamics of power, religion, and military challenges that would eventually lead to the transformation of the Roman world and the dawn of the medieval era.