To the problem of the causes of roman defeat in the battle of adrianople with the gothsin at august 9th in 378

Author(s):  S. V. Yartsev, Tula State Pedagogical University named after L.N. Tolstoy, Tula, Russia, s-yartsev@yandex.ru

Issue:  Volume 37, №1

Rubric:  Topical issues of world history

Annotation:  This article deals with the causes of one of the greatest defeats of the Roman Empire - the battle with the Goths at Adrianople on August 9thin 378, resulting in the death of the pick of the Roman army, including the emperor. Blatant betrayal and the general breakdown of the army, along with purely military command errors certainly played a role in the crushing defeat of the Romans. However, in the author’s opinion, the main reasons for the defeat, were the internal political conflicts which expressed both in the desire of the emperor to get the glory as the winner of the barbarians, and the stalled strategic plans of Valens against the Goths and other peoples of the Northern Areas near the Black Sea. Thebreakdown of these peoples caused the Goths’ extreme bitterness against the Romans.

Keywords:  The Roman Empire, Emperor Valens, the Goths, the Gothic leader Fritigern, the Battle of Adrianople.

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