Rome, Valentinian-Theodosian Dynasty (364-455); 67*Valentinian-I, 68 Valens: Procopius (usurper), Valentinian-I’s Alamanni War [3/3]

67*VALENTINIAN-I (54; r.364-375) (all→W)

68 VALENS (50; r.364-378) (E)

The army generals, deliberating to find a successor, rejected the first two candidates and decided on ³¹Flavius Valentinianus (54; fl.330s-375), who had served under Constantius II, Julian and Jovian. Within a month Valentinian appointed his 

brother ³²Flavius Julius Valens as augustus in the East while retaining the rule of the West for himself.

Procopius (usurper; Constantinople) (365-366)

Procopius, one of the commanders in charge of the northern part of his cousin Julian’s army during the Persian expedition, had made his way to Constantinople. In summer 365 Valens was passing through Bithynia on his way to Syria when learned that the Goths were preparing to invade Thracia.

Valens reacted immediately and sent two legions to defend the Danube frontier. While passing through Constantinople the two legions were won over by Procopius who, believing that its citizens were ripe for rebellion because of excessive taxation was able to persuade them to proclaim him augustus.

He now ordered the arrest of Valen’s officials in the city and replaced them with his own men. By the end of the year the failure of imperial resistance to materialise allowed Procopius to gain control of the dioceses of Asiana (western Asia Minor) and Thracia. He also closed the harbours of Constantinople of traffic and ordered the garrisoning of the city fortifications, breaking communications with Valens and his brother.

After the loss of Thracia, Valentinian ordered his comes (=Count) Illyricum, Aequitius, to close the three key passes in order to prevent Procopius further access to the West. Arbitio (fl.354-366), a retired general of Constantius, supported the usurper but declined an invitation to his court. Procopius responded by ordering the general’s house to be pillaged, thus turning a supporter into an enemy. Arbitio promptly accepted Valens’ invitation to join the camp of Valens’ magister militum ³³Flavius Lupicinus (fl.357-377) in the East.

Arbitio’s defection initiated the collapse of Procopius’ support. After the defeat of his army at Thyatira in Phrygia, the usurper’s general Gumoarius (fl.350-366) together with many of his men deserted to the other side. At Nacoleia the usurper’s other senior general, Agilo (fl.354-366), in his turn deserted and his men refused to fight. Procopius was brought to Valens’ camp where he was immediately put to death.

Valentinian-I’s Alamanni War (365-374) [3/3]

In January 365 the Alamanni crossed the Rhine and invaded Gaul in three groups. Charietto, the count commanding both Germanies, was an early victim of the barbarian onset. In 366 the magister equitum ³³Flavius Valerius Jovinus surprised and defeated one band at Scarpone (=Dieulouard) and destroyed another on the bank of the Moselle. He defeated the third force at Durocatalaunum (=Chalons-sur-Marne), inflicting losses of six thousand dead and four thousand wounded.

In 367 the Alamanni invaded once more and the following spring Valentinian led a massive Roman drive into Alamannic territory and inflicted a great defeat on them at Solicinium, though at great cost. He strengthened the Rhine frontier but the Alamanni continued to cause trouble for years to come. After many years of skirmishes, Valentinian eventually signed a pact with the Alamannic king Macrian in 374.