Adrianople, Battle of 378

Adrianople, Battle of (378)


battle on August 9 in the region of Adrianople (modern Edirne, Turkey) between the armies of the Roman emperor Valens and the rebel Visigoths led by Fritigern and joined by slaves and colons. The Roman attack on the Visigoths’ camp was repulsed, and the Gothic cavalry dealt the Romans an unexpected blow on their left flank. Practically the whole Roman army perished in the battle, including the emperor. This defeat seriously weakened the Roman Empire and forced Rome to supplement its army with detachments of “confederates,” thus lowering its fighting capacity.