Topic The topic I have chosen is the Battle of Adrianople, which was a battle between the Romans and the Goths in 378 AD and resulted in the Romans getting smashed by the Goths (Germans)

Reason At first I didn't choose this topic, sir told me to do it, but after I read about it seemed interesting, as it involved the Romans and a massive battle, the other reason was I couldn't believe that the Germans (Goths) could beat the Romans

Obstacles There were a few obstacles I had to overcome including faulty sites and miss leading information like that there was 200,000 Romans which was wrong by about 120,000, other obstacles were things like the other battle’s of Adrianople mine was in 378 AD and there was one in 320 AD another in 800 AD and some more in the 14th and 15th century. Other than the faulty sites and information and wrong events there weren't to many other obstacles except writing my speech and essay.

Question My question was a hard one to make and in the end sir made it for me, at first it was asses and discuss the impact the battle of Adrianople had on the consolidation of imperial forces in the east but then we took out the discuss and left it as ASSES THE IMPACT OF THE BATTLE OF ADRIANOPLE HAD ON THE CONSOLIDATION OF IMPERIAL FORCES IN THE EAST.

History It all started 2 years prior to the battle when the Goths asked if they could settle in roman territory, the Romans who were being attacked by the Huns agreed and allowed them into Thrace. After awhile the Goths were not happy with their treatment and revolted. Soon as emperor Valens got word he went back to stop this uprising. There were many little battles from then and 378. Which was when Valens asked the emperor of the west Gratian for help, Gratian massed an army and went across. Valens who when arrived 10 km north of Adrianople he saw that there was a smaller army than they thought, so he went to attack a messenger from Gratian asked Valens to wait for him to arrive with his army but he declined and attacked, the Goths tried to negotiate but Valens declined as he though he had superior numbers. Valens looked like he was going to win until the Goths heavy cavalry who was foraging further away came back and absolutely annihilated the Roman army and less than a third of the roman army escaped with an estimate of 40,000 deaths including Valens

Motives Reason for revolting, bad treatment Goths dying from disease and lack of food Reason for attacking with out Gratian, Valens wanted all the glory for himself Reason Romans let Goths in, They let them in as they thought they could be used as soldiers and farmers.

Tactics The first picture shows how the roman infantry were in the middle with horse on the left and right flanks approaching the lager of Goths. In the second picture you can see the Romans surrounding the front of the lager and attacking until the gothic heavy cavalry came back from their foraging and attacked the flanks of the Romans. In the third picture you see the Gothic cavalry pushing the Romans back and making the ones who survived flee, after the horses were routed or killed, the gothic infantry and horses surrounded the roman military and killed them all, less than a third of the roman’s escaped and estimated 40,000 deaths on the roman side and the Goths deaths are unknown but are estimated around 5-6 thousand

Conclusion From my research on the battle of Adrianople I've come to believe that the battle has a massive impact on the consolidation of forces in the east and eventually becoming Byzantium. Another impact it had was that it also led to use of heavy cavalry as the Goths horses slaughtered the roman’s and it also led to the creation of the cataphract which was Byzantium's most famous unit and was heavy cavalry. From what I've read as well many believe this was the start of the middle ages and the moment horses became the superior unit. So in regards to my question asses the impact the battle of Adrianople had on the consolidation of forces in the east I would say that it had a massive impact,

THE END thanks you for listening by Matthew Hughes