Adrianople August 9, 378 Strategic Context The Visigoths and Ostrigoths conspire to assassinate Roman Emperor Valens but fail; the Romans consequently negotiate a truce with the Persians, who they are fighting and march against Fritigern’s combined Gothic force. So far, the Goths are usually able to extricate themselves from dangerous situations after being gradually pushed out of Thrace. They retreat towards Adrianople and establish their traditional defensive position when the Romans arrive. Stakes + A Roman victory would force the Goths backwards into the path of the ferocious Huns, putting their survival in doubt. + A Gothic victory would destroy the only major Roman army in the region, opening up the Eastern Roman Empire to pillaging and possible conquest. By Jonathan Webb, 2009 © No Image Available

Adrianople, 378 Strength  Romans  Well  Goths  Well  50,000 cavalry  10,000 infantry  Fritigern  20,000 cavalry  40,000 infantry  Emperor Flavius Valens By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©

Valens deploys his army in a standard formation with his infantry legions in the center flanked by his cavalry, which includes horse- archers. Fritigern deploys his force on a sizeable hill, his infantry launching attacks from the protection offered by the ring of wagons where the soldiers’ families are. His cavalry is away foraging so he seeks to delay the Romans until the decisive force arrives. Fritigern tries to delay the Roman assault by sending envoys to open negotiations but Valens, believing the Gothic cavalry to be away on a time-consuming raid, resolves to attack. The Goths quickly set fire to the adjacent fields to impede the attack which results in the discomfort of the heavily-armoured Romans and a choking cloud of smoke over the battlefield. Romans (Valens) Romans (Emperor Flavius Valens) 40,000 infantry 20,000 cavalry Goths (Fritigern) Goths (Fritigern) 10,000 infantry 50,000 cavalry

Valens strongly believes the Gothic cavalry are not returning so he patiently sends his horse-archers to harass the Goths. The Gothic infantry are not amused and counters, driving the Roman cavalry back. This provokes a premature, undisciplined attack by a Roman infantry force which is repulsed and driven back by superior Gothic numbers and position. Fritigern tries to delay the Roman assault by sending envoys to open negotiations but Valens, believing the Gothic cavalry to be away on a time-consuming raid, resolves to attack. The Goths quickly set fire to the adjacent fields to impede the attack which results in the discomfort of the heavily-armoured Romans and a choking cloud of smoke over the battlefield. Seeing a part of his army already in combat, Valens orders a full assault and the Roman infantry soon become deeply engaged in fierce fighting along the hill. Despite high casualties and not being able to be supported by cavalry, the Romans push the Goths back beyond their wagons on the Gothic right. The Gothic heavy cavalry arrive at the peak of combat and drive the outclassed and outnumbered Roman cavalry from the field. The Gothic cavalry, hidden by the looming smoke, swoop around the Roman infantry while the Gothic infantry feel the shift of momentum and launch a counterattack to push the Romans off the hill. The Roman infantry try to flee but the majority are surrounded. The Romans are so tightly surrounded that they can hardly draw their weapons; only when many have already fallen can the Roman infantry fight back with any effectiveness or try and escape. The massacre continues for hours as the Roman infantry fight for survival. Some Romans manage to escape but are inevitably destroyed along with their commander. Romans (Valens) Goths (Fritigern) Romans (Emperor Flavius Valens) 40,000 infantry 20,000 cavalry Goths (Fritigern) 10,000 infantry 50,000 cavalry

Adrianople, 378 Casualties & Aftermath Romans:Goths: 40,000 or 67% 2,000 or 3% By Jonathan Webb, 2009 © The Goths rampaged across the Balkans for five years until Valens’ successor, Theodosius, defeated them with a reorganized Roman army centered around cavalry. He also returned to the custom of pardoning defeated Goths and absorbing them into the Roman army but the majority settled into Italy or Spain.

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps By Jonathan Webb, 2009 ©