Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at AdrianopleThe latest of Ian Hughes' Late Roman biographies here tackles the careers of the brother emperors, Valentinian and Valens. Valentian was selected and proclaimed as emperor in AD 364, when the Empire was still reeling from the disastrous defeat and death in battle of Julian the Apostate (363) and the short reign of his murdered successor, Jovian (364). With the Empire weakened and vulnerable to a victorious Persia in the East and opportunistic Germanic tribes along the Rhine and Danube frontiers, not to mention usurpers and rebellions within, it was not an enviable position. Valentian decided the responsibility had to be divided (not for the first or last time) and appointed his brother as his co-emperor to rule the eastern half of the Empire. ??Valentinian went on to stabilize the Western Empire, quelling revolt in North Africa, defeating the 'Barbarian Conspiracy' that attacked Britain in 367 and conducting successful wars against the Germanic Alemanni, Quadi and Saxons; he is remembered by History as a strong and successful Emperor. Valens on the other hand, fare less well and is most remembered for his (mis)treatment of the Goths who sought refuge within the Empire's borders from the westward-moving Huns. Valens mishandling of this situation led to the Battle of Adrianople in 378, where he was killed and Rome suffered one of the worst defeats in her long history, often seen as the 'beginning of the end' for the Western Roman empire. Ian Hughes, by tracing the careers of both men in tandem, compares their achievements and analyzes the extent to which they deserve the contrasting reputations handed down by history. |
Contents
Background Dividing the Empire | 1 |
The New Emperors | 22 |
365366 | 39 |
The Calm Before the Storm | 173 |
Aftermath and Conclusion | 204 |
The Adrianople Campaign and After | 228 |
Select Bibliography | 267 |
Other editions - View all
Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople Ian Hughes Limited preview - 2013 |
Imperial Brothers: Valentinian, Valens and the Disaster at Adrianople HUGHES IAN No preview available - 2022 |
Common terms and phrases
accepted According to Ammianus Africa Alamanni Alamanni and Rome Antioch appear appointed Arbitio Arian Arintheus Armenia arrived Athanaric attack attempt Balkans Battle of Adrianople Britain campaign cavalry Chapter Christian chronology claims command Constantinople Constantius Constantius II court Dagalaifus Danube death defeat Drinkwater East Eastern emperor Empire enemy envoys Equitius Errington face Failure ofEmpire Firmus forces Frigeridus Fritigern frontier Gaul Gothic Goths Gratian Greuthungi Huns Illyricum infantry invaded invasion Jovian Jovinus Julian to Theodosius king large number Lenski Lentienses Lupicinus Macrianus magister militum major Marcianople Mavia military Nicene Notitia P’awstos Pannonia peace persecution Persians PLRE Policy from Julian political possible Procopius Quadi rebellion reign remained returned revolt Rhine Richomeres Roman army Roman Imperial Policy Sarmatians Sebastianus sent Shapur sources Sozomen territory Tervingi Theodosius Thrace Traianus treaty tribes Ulfila Unfortunately Valens Valentinian and Valens Valentinian II victory West Western whilst winter Zosimus