The settlement of such a host of barbarians within the
frontier of the empire was in itself a dangerous thing. The danger was
increased by the ill treatment which the immigrants received. The Roman
officials robbed them of their possessions, withheld the promised supplies of food,
and even tried to murder their leaders at a banquet. Finally, the Germans broke
out in open revolt. The emperor Valens misjudged their strength and rashly gave
them battle near Adrianople in Thrace. The once invincible legions fell an easy
prey to their foes, and the emperor himself perished.
RESULTS OF THE BATTLE
The defeat at Adrianople is considered one of the few
really decisive battles in the world's history. It showed the barbarians that
they could face the Romans in open fight and beat them. And it broke, once for
all, the Danube barrier. Swarms of fighting men, Ostrogoths as well as
Visigoths, overran the provinces south of the Danube. The great ruler,
Theodosius, saved the empire for a time by granting lands to the Germans
and by enrolling them in the army under the high-sounding title of
"allies." Until his death the Goths remained quiet—but it was only
the lull before the storm.
