7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

1/7

AdrianopleAugust 9, 378

Strategic Context

The Visigoths and Ostrigoths conspired to assassinate Roman Emperor Valens but

failed; the Romans have consequently negotiated a truce with the Persians, whom they

were fighting and marched against Fritigerns combined Gothic force. So far, the Goths

have been able to extricate themselves from dangerous situations after being gradually

pushed out of Thrace. They retreat towards Adrianople and establish their traditional

defensive position when the Romans arrive.

Stakes

+ A Roman victory would force the Goths

backwards into the path of the ferociousHuns, putting their survival in doubt.

+ A Gothic victory would destroy the only

major Roman army in the region, opening

up the Eastern Roman Empire to pillaging

and possible conquest.

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

No Image

Avai lable

http://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPG

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

2/7

Adrianople, 378Strength

Romans

Well

Goths

Well

50,000 cavalry

10,000 infantry

Fritigern

20,000 cavalry40,000 infantry

Emperor Flavius Valens

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

http://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPGhttp://www.livius.org/a/1/emperors/valens_mainz_rgzm.JPG

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

3/7

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

4/7

Valens deploys his army in a standard formation with his infantry legions in the center flanked by his cavalry, which includes horse-

archers. Fritigern deploys his force on a sizeable hill, his infantry launching attacks from the protection offered by the ring of wagons

where the soldiers families are. His cavalry is away foraging so he seeks to delay the Romans until the decisive force arrives.

Fritigern tries to delay the Roman assault by sending envoys to open negotiations but Valens, believing the Gothic cavalry

to be away on a time-consuming raid, resolves to attack. The Goths quickly set fire to the adjacent fields to impede the

attack which results in the discomfort of the heavily-armoured Romans and a choking cloud of smoke over the battlefield.

Romans

(Valens)

Romans

(Emperor Flavius Valens)

40,000 infantry

20,000 cavalry

Goths

(Fritigern)Goths

(Fritigern)

10,000 infantry50,000 cavalry

NN

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

5/7

Valens strongly believes the Gothic cavalry are not returning so he patiently sends his horse-archers to harass the Goths.

The Gothic infantry are not amused and counters, driving the Roman cavalry back. This provokes a premature,

undisciplined attack by a Roman infantry force which is repulsed and driven back by superior Gothic numbers and

position.

Fritigern tries to delay the Roman assault by sending envoys to open negotiations but Valens, believing the Gothic cavalry

to be away on a time-consuming raid, resolves to attack. The Goths quickly set fire to the adjacent fields to impede the

attack which results in the discomfort of the heavily-armoured Romans and a choking cloud of smoke over the battlefield.

Seeing a part of his army already in combat, Valens orders a full assault and the Roman infantry soon become deeply

engaged in fierce fighting along the hill. Despite high casualties and not being able to be supported by cavalry, the

Romans push the Goths back beyond their wagons on the Gothic right.

The Gothic heavy cavalry arrive at the peak of combat and drive the outclassed and outnumbered Roman cavalry from the field. The

Gothic cavalry, hidden by the looming smoke, swoop around the Roman infantry while the Gothic infantry feel the shift of momentum

and launch a counterattack to push the Romans off the hill. The Roman infantry try to flee but the majority are surrounded.

The Romans are so tightly surrounded that they can hardly draw their weapons; only when many have already fallen can

the Roman infantry fight back with any effectiveness or try and escape. The massacre continues for hours as the Roman

infantry fight for survival. Some Romans manage to escape but are inevitably destroyed along with their commander.

Romans

(Valens)

Goths

(Fritigern)

NN

Romans

(Emperor Flavius Valens)

40,000 infantry

20,000 cavalry

Goths

(Fritigern)

10,000 infantry50,000 cavalry

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

6/7

Adrianople, 378Casualties & Aftermath

Romans: Goths:

40,000

or

67%

2,000

or

3%

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

The Goths rampaged across the Balkans for five years until Valens successor,

Theodosius, defeated them with a reorganized Roman army centered around

cavalry. He also returned to the custom of pardoning defeated Goths and

absorbing them into the Roman army but the majority settled into Italy or Spain.

7/28/2019 Battle of Adrianople V

7/7

The Art of Battle:Animated Battle Maps

http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/