Alatheus and Saphrax wereGreuthungi chieftains who served as co-regents for Vithericus, son and heir of the Gothic kingVithimiris.
Alatheus (fl. 376–387) was a chieftain of theGreuthungi. He fought during theHunnish invasion of 376, engaged in war withRome from 376 to 383, and incursions into the Balkans in 387.[citation needed] He is most famous for his participation at theBattle of Adrianople in 378.[1]
After the death of theGothic King Vithimiris while fighting against the Huns in 376, Alatheus became, with Saphrax, co-regent and guardian of Vithericus, infant son of Vithimiris. He helped in the leadership of the great Gothic migration before the Hun onslaught, he crossed theDanube while Rome was busy withThervingi refugees in that year. He soon allied himself with the Thervingi leadersFritigern andAlavivus against Rome.[1]
Alatheus eluded the Romans and rampaged throughThrace andMoesia in 377–378. He marched to Fritigern's aid against EmperorValens at thebattle of Adrianople in 378, in which Valens was killed when Alatheus' forces were victorious. He continued to raid Thrace and northernGreece, but was defeated byTheodosius the Great's generalPromotus, and he settled on the north side of the Danube. He appeared on its banks again in 386, with the intention of invading the Roman provinces again. His forces were, however, repulsed, and Alatheus was slain.[2][3][4][5]
Saphrax (diedc. 400) was a Greuthungi chieftain, who led the tribe along with Alatheus. Both names appear to have beenAlanic; they may have been Sarmatian/Alan.[6] After the death of the King Vithimiris while fighting against theHuns in 376, Alatheus and Saphrax became regents and guardians of Vithericus, infant son of Vithimiris. He and Alatheus commanded the Greuthungi, whileFritigern commanded theThervingi, numbering an army of 10,000 (according to contemporaryAmmianus Marcellinus) in theBattle of Adrianople in 378 against theRoman Empire. It is theorized that Saphrax led a Hun-Alan contingent.[7] Ending in defeat for Rome, many of their followers rampaged through the Eastern Empire until they were settled years after byTheodosius treaties inPannonia Prima.[8] Remnants were recruited into the Roman army.[8]
A fictionalized account of Saphrax and Altheaus' deeds is featured heavily in the final episode of the animated seriesThe Venture Bros.