Professor Peter Heather

Is he almost kind of trying to play them off each other at the same time? Yeah, it's divide and rule. It's the least worst scenario. He knows he doesn't have enough troops in the Balkans to keep both out. So he's letting one in, fingers crossed behind his back.

Is he almost kind of trying to play them off each other at the same time? Yeah, it's divide and rule. It's the least worst scenario. He knows he doesn't have enough troops in the Balkans to keep both out. So he's letting one in, fingers crossed behind his back.

Is he almost kind of trying to play them off each other at the same time? Yeah, it's divide and rule. It's the least worst scenario. He knows he doesn't have enough troops in the Balkans to keep both out. So he's letting one in, fingers crossed behind his back.

keep the other one out, make a deal with Persia, which is what he does as soon as possible, to free up his army and then we'll restore normal order even against the group we've let in.

keep the other one out, make a deal with Persia, which is what he does as soon as possible, to free up his army and then we'll restore normal order even against the group we've let in.

keep the other one out, make a deal with Persia, which is what he does as soon as possible, to free up his army and then we'll restore normal order even against the group we've let in.

I don't think he's thinking that way. That's what the sources tell us he's thinking. But, you know, no emperor can ever say, well, sorry, we're stuffed. I have to let some of them in because I don't have enough troops in the Balkans. That is a not possible admission for a Roman emperor to make. You have always to be

I don't think he's thinking that way. That's what the sources tell us he's thinking. But, you know, no emperor can ever say, well, sorry, we're stuffed. I have to let some of them in because I don't have enough troops in the Balkans. That is a not possible admission for a Roman emperor to make. You have always to be

I don't think he's thinking that way. That's what the sources tell us he's thinking. But, you know, no emperor can ever say, well, sorry, we're stuffed. I have to let some of them in because I don't have enough troops in the Balkans. That is a not possible admission for a Roman emperor to make. You have always to be

in control of the situation against barbarians, because otherwise God is not with you and therefore you're not a legitimate emperor. What should have happened would be that you'd let half them in, break them up into small groups, settle them in separate parts of the Balkans, then draw on them for a smallish, reasonably sized number of recruits in dribs and drabs subsequently.

in control of the situation against barbarians, because otherwise God is not with you and therefore you're not a legitimate emperor. What should have happened would be that you'd let half them in, break them up into small groups, settle them in separate parts of the Balkans, then draw on them for a smallish, reasonably sized number of recruits in dribs and drabs subsequently.

in control of the situation against barbarians, because otherwise God is not with you and therefore you're not a legitimate emperor. What should have happened would be that you'd let half them in, break them up into small groups, settle them in separate parts of the Balkans, then draw on them for a smallish, reasonably sized number of recruits in dribs and drabs subsequently.

That's, I think, what he would like to do.

That's, I think, what he would like to do.

That's, I think, what he would like to do.

I think they do, yes. One thing that occurs is that there are supply problems. Now, you could say trying to feed 100,000 people is very difficult anyway, but the Roman sources let it slip that Valens' officials had been busy moving all the food into defended cities, where the Goths can't get at it on their own account.

I think they do, yes. One thing that occurs is that there are supply problems. Now, you could say trying to feed 100,000 people is very difficult anyway, but the Roman sources let it slip that Valens' officials had been busy moving all the food into defended cities, where the Goths can't get at it on their own account.

I think they do, yes. One thing that occurs is that there are supply problems. Now, you could say trying to feed 100,000 people is very difficult anyway, but the Roman sources let it slip that Valens' officials had been busy moving all the food into defended cities, where the Goths can't get at it on their own account.

The Goths also know enough about Roman policy to know that letting them in in one Group is a real break with the past, and this may not be forever. So actually, the group that is admitted stays in contact with the group that's not admitted.

The Goths also know enough about Roman policy to know that letting them in in one Group is a real break with the past, and this may not be forever. So actually, the group that is admitted stays in contact with the group that's not admitted.