In 366 Valens declared that a decision by the Goths to aid Procopius was a breach of the treaty that they had signed with Constantine in 332, dismissing their excuse that Procopius had demonstrated his kingship with the family of Constantine.
In winter 356/7, Valens began preparing an expedition beyond the Danube against the Goths. He built a pontoon bridge between Transmarisca (=Tutrakan, northeast Bulgaria) and Constantiana Daphne (a fortress constructed by Constantine-I on the left bank of the Danube in 327), but the Tervingi Goths fled north and Valens was unable to bring them to battle.
In 369 the Romans launched their attack downstream at Castra Noviodunum (near Isaccea, east Romania). The Romans’ first encounter was with the Greuthungi Goths, who quickly withdrew. The imperial army pressed on into the area between the Pruth and Dniester rivers until the Tervingi, led by their chief Athanaric (fl.360-381) turned to face the Romans. The Tervingi lost the engagement but managed to escape annihilation. The Romans unsuccessful attempt to encircle and defeat the highly mobile Tervingi prompted Valens to accept Athanaric’s offer of peace.
In 371 Valens survived an assassination attempt by Sallustius, one of the Scutarii (shielded cavalry) near Antioch. In the following year at Antioch a usurper named Theodorus, said to have been identified by divination as the successor to Valens, was tried, found guilty and dealt with.
Leave a Reply