Valens - Flavius Julius Valens (AD 328 - 378): Brother of Valentinian I; Uncle of Gratian, Valentinian II and Galla (wife of Theodosius I). Paralel rulers of the Western Roman Empire: Valentinian I (AD 364 - 375) Gratian (AD 367 - 383) Valentinian II (AD 375 - 392)

Mints: Alexandria, Antioch, Aquileia, Arelate, Cyzicus, Heraclea, Lugdunum, Mediolanum, Nicomedia, Rome, Sirmium, Siscia, Thessalonica, Treveri.

Biography: Flavius Julius Valens began his career under Julian and Jovian. His brother Valentinian initially appointed him director of his table when he took the purple but then changed his mind and made him joint emperor for the east soon afterwards. His rule was beset with internal troubles and endless foreign problems. After squashing the revolt of Procopius in 365, Valens had to deal with the Visigoths, who had helped the pretender. In 367 and 369 he led to expeditions north of the Danube and deep into the Visigoths' territory. In 371-2 he had to suppress another conspiracy and then to renew the struggle with the Persians which, even after his successes in Mesopotamia, did not bring to Rome the peace he wanted. In 376, after Valens had become senior Augustus upon the death of his brother, the Visigoths crossed the border en masse, pressed westwards by the Huns. Allowed to settle in the Balkans by Valens's local commanders, they were mercilessly exploited and broke into open revolt. Valens hastened east to confront the crisis in 378 and after small bands of Goths have been dispersed by some of his generals, met with Fritigern's main force near Hadrianopolis. The Goths gained a crushing victory and Valens himself disappeared on the field of battle. His body was never found. As Valens was a determined Arian, subsequent Christian authors had no trouble seeing in his death God's retribution on the persecutor of the catholic Church. His most enduring legacy is the completion of a great aqueduct in Constantinople, began by Constantine the Great, parts of which still remain.

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