Valens

Valens (c. 328-378), Roman emperor of the East (364-378), born in Cibalae (near modern Osijek, Croatia). He was chosen by his brother Valentinian I, Roman emperor of the West, as his coregent in the East. In 367 Valens went to war against the Visigoths, a Germanic tribe that was encroaching on Roman territory. Two years later he agreed to peace; the River Danube was to be the new border between the Visigoths and the Romans. Valens stayed in Asia Minor from 371 to 377, concerning himself with the Persian threat to Armenia. In 376 he granted the Visigoths permission to cross the Danube. Alleging a breach of good faith on the part of the Romans, the Visigoths broke the peace, and in 378 Valens and most of the Roman army perished at their hands in the Battle of Adrianople, fought near present-day Edirne, Turkey. The battle was one of the costliest recorded battles of ancient times. Valens was succeeded as emperor of the East by Theodosius I.