Description
Book SynopsisRavaged by civil war and pressure from the Huns to the east, in late summer AD 376 the Gothic tribe of the Theruingi up to 200,000 people under their leader Fritigern gathered on the northern bank of the River Danube and asked the Eastern Roman emperor, Valens, for asylum within the empire. After agreeing to convert to Arian Christianity and enrol in the Roman Army, the Goths were allowed to cross the Danube and settle in the province of Thrace. Far more people crossed the Danube than the Romans expected, however, and with winter approaching, the local Roman commander, Lupicinus, lacked the resources to feed the newcomers and did not possess sufficient troops to control them. Treated poorly and running out of food, the Goths very quickly lost faith in the Roman promises.
Meanwhile, other Gothic tribes also sought permission to cross the Danube. The Greuthungi were refused permission, but soon learned that local Roman garrisons had been depleted to supervise the march of th
Table of Contents
Introduction The Opposing Sides Marcianopolis, AD 376 The Willows, AD 377 Adrianople, 9 August AD 378 Analysis Aftermath Bibliography Index
