Adrianople

August 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 ferocious Huns, 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.

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By Jonathan Webb, 2008

Adrianople, 378
Strength
Romans Emperor Flavius Valens 40,000 infantry 20,000 cavalry Well Goths Fritigern 10,000 infantry 50,000 cavalry Well

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

Valens deploys his armythe in aRoman standard formation his infantry legions in the center flanked by his cavalry, which includes Fritigern tries to delay assault by with sending envoys to open negotiations but Valens, believing the Gothichorsecavalry archers. Fritigern his force on a sizeable hill, infantry launching attacks set from the protection offered by the ring of wagons to be away on a deploys time-consuming raid, resolves tohis attack. The Goths quickly fire to the adjacent fields to impede the where the soldiers families are. His cavalry is away foraging so he seeks to delay Romans until the decisive force arriv es. attack which results in the discomfort of the heavily-armoured Romans and the a choking cloud of smoke over the battlefield.

Goths (Fritigern) 10,000 infantry 50,000 cavalry

Goths (Fritigern)
N

Romans (Valens)

Romans (Emperor Flavius Valens) 40,000 infantry 20,000 cavalry

The Gothic heavy cavalry arrive at the peak of combat and drive a the and outnumbered Roman cavalry from the field. The Valens Fritigern Seeing The Romans strongly atries part are to ofbelieves delay his so army tightly the the already Roman surrounded Gothic in assault cavalry combat, that by they are sending Valens not can returning orders hardly envoys draw so full tooutclassed open he assault their patiently negotiations weapons; and sends the only Roman but hiswhen Valens, horse-archers infantry many believing soon have to become already harass the Gothic the deeply fallen cavalry Goths. can Gothic cavalry, hidden by not the looming smoke, swoop around the Roman infantry while the infantry feel the shift of momentum The to engaged the be Roman Gothic away in on infantry fierce a time-consuming fighting are fight back along amused with the raid, any hill. and resolves effectiveness Despite counters, to high attack. driving or casualties try The the and Roman Goths escape. and not quickly cavalry The being set massacre back. able fire Gothic to to This be the continues provokes supported adjacent for a fields by premature, hours cavalry, toas impede the the Roman the and launch a counterattack to push the Romans offwhich the Roman infantry trya to flee but the majority are surrounded. undisciplined attack Romans infantry which fight push for results attack the survival. Goths by in the a back Some Roman discomfort beyond Romans infantry of their the manage force wagons heavily-armoured tohill. on escape isThe the repulsed Gothic but Romans are and right. inevitably driven and back choking destroyed by superior cloud along ofGothic smoke with their numbers over commander. the and battlefield.

position.

Goths (Fritigern) 10,000 infantry 50,000 cavalry

Goths (Fritigern)
N

Romans (Valens)

Romans (Emperor Flavius Valens) 40,000 infantry 20,000 cavalry

Adrianople, 378
Casualties & Aftermath
Romans: Goths:

40,000

2,000 or 3%

or
67%

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.

By Jonathan Webb, 2008

The Art of Battle: Animated Battle Maps

http://www.the-art-of-battle.350.com/
By Jonathan Webb, 2008