Gothic War: EmperorValens permits the Visigothic chieftainFritigern and his people to cross theDanube fromThrace (laterRomania), and settle on Roman soil inLower Moesia, on the condition that they provide soldiers to thelegions. TheVisigoths embark by troops on boats andrafts, andcanoes made from hollowedtree trunks. The river is swollen by frequent rains; a large number try to swim and are drowned in their struggle against the force of the stream.
TheGreuthungi, led byAlatheus and Saphrax, displaced by the predations of theHuns andAlans, requestasylum within theRoman Empire. They are refused. The Roman frontier forces stretched to the breaking point, they slip across the Danube and unite with Fritigern. With their situation critical and desperately short offood, discontent is rising amongst theGoths.
The Romans fail to disarm the Visigoths, bungle administration of the refugees, andmistreat them, taking some of their children as slaves. The Goths break out of their containment area along the Danube and strike south towards the low-lying fertile region nearMarcianople (Bulgaria). Although defying the local Roman officials, they are not in open revolt.
Lupicinus, count (Comes) of Thrace, tries to bring the Visigoths back under control. He invites Fritigern and the Gothic leaders to abanquet, letting them believe that in addition to food and drink, they can discuss provisions for their people. During the feast, Lupicinus tries to assassinate the Gothic delegation. Fritigern escapes and the Goths begin looting and burning thefarms andRoman villas near Marcianople.
Lupicinus attacks the Visigoths 9 miles outside Marcianople with hastily gathered local troops. His force (5,000 men) is annihilated and the Goths equip themselves with Roman armour and weapons. Fritigern marches south towardsAdrianople (Turkey).
Fearing they will join Fritigern, Roman troops of Gothic origin stationed in Adrianople are ordered by Valens to move east. The soldiers request a two-day delay to prepare and ask for food and money for the journey. However, thechief magistrate of Adrianople refuses and the Goths break out in open rebellion. They inflict heavy casualties among the citizens. Arming themselves with Roman equipment, they join forces with Fritigern.
Winter – Fritigern attempts an unsuccessfulsiege of Adrianople. His troops try to storm thecity walls, but abandon the attacks and break into small bands, better able toforage and feed themselves. Roman prisoners switch sides and give the Goths a valuable source of local intelligence.
