Professor Peter Heather

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.

And it's pretty clear that Valens had also given contingent orders to his local commanders what to do if things start to look like they're getting a bit dodgy, and that the Goths, the group that have been admitted, are going to go into revolt.

And it's pretty clear that Valens had also given contingent orders to his local commanders what to do if things start to look like they're getting a bit dodgy, and that the Goths, the group that have been admitted, are going to go into revolt.

And it's pretty clear that Valens had also given contingent orders to his local commanders what to do if things start to look like they're getting a bit dodgy, and that the Goths, the group that have been admitted, are going to go into revolt.

because one standard trope you see in Roman frontier management in the fourth century is invite a slightly dangerous looking king to dinner and then eliminate them. And as tensions start to build up, the local Roman commander invites all the leaders of the admitted Goths to dinner and eliminates most of them. Fritigern comes out of this dinner party And this fascinates me.

because one standard trope you see in Roman frontier management in the fourth century is invite a slightly dangerous looking king to dinner and then eliminate them. And as tensions start to build up, the local Roman commander invites all the leaders of the admitted Goths to dinner and eliminates most of them. Fritigern comes out of this dinner party And this fascinates me.

because one standard trope you see in Roman frontier management in the fourth century is invite a slightly dangerous looking king to dinner and then eliminate them. And as tensions start to build up, the local Roman commander invites all the leaders of the admitted Goths to dinner and eliminates most of them. Fritigern comes out of this dinner party And this fascinates me.

Well, except that the dinner party got rid of all his rivals because Fritigern is not an old established leader. When that group negotiates to come in, two people are named, Fritigern, but also Alavivas. Alavivas disappears, I imagine, at the dinner party. I've got a feeling Fritigern said to the local Roman commander, okay, look, you take him out of the way and I'll give you a deal.

Well, except that the dinner party got rid of all his rivals because Fritigern is not an old established leader. When that group negotiates to come in, two people are named, Fritigern, but also Alavivas. Alavivas disappears, I imagine, at the dinner party. I've got a feeling Fritigern said to the local Roman commander, okay, look, you take him out of the way and I'll give you a deal.

Well, except that the dinner party got rid of all his rivals because Fritigern is not an old established leader. When that group negotiates to come in, two people are named, Fritigern, but also Alavivas. Alavivas disappears, I imagine, at the dinner party. I've got a feeling Fritigern said to the local Roman commander, okay, look, you take him out of the way and I'll give you a deal.

I'll keep the Goths quiet. It's my deep, dark suspicion. I cannot prove it. I cannot prove it.

I'll keep the Goths quiet. It's my deep, dark suspicion. I cannot prove it. I cannot prove it.

I'll keep the Goths quiet. It's my deep, dark suspicion. I cannot prove it. I cannot prove it.

And what happens is the troops that have been posted to keep the second group on the other side of the river, have to come in to deal with the rebellion and the other group immediately crosses.

And what happens is the troops that have been posted to keep the second group on the other side of the river, have to come in to deal with the rebellion and the other group immediately crosses.

And what happens is the troops that have been posted to keep the second group on the other side of the river, have to come in to deal with the rebellion and the other group immediately crosses.

I mean, he knows that the problem is a very serious one. And actually, it takes him two years between 376 and 378 to extract his army from Persia. But he also has been negotiating help from the Western emperor, who is his nephew, Gratian. So Gratian is on his way with an army. But Gratian is slow. He's only on the fringes of the Balkans.

I mean, he knows that the problem is a very serious one. And actually, it takes him two years between 376 and 378 to extract his army from Persia. But he also has been negotiating help from the Western emperor, who is his nephew, Gratian. So Gratian is on his way with an army. But Gratian is slow. He's only on the fringes of the Balkans.

I mean, he knows that the problem is a very serious one. And actually, it takes him two years between 376 and 378 to extract his army from Persia. But he also has been negotiating help from the Western emperor, who is his nephew, Gratian. So Gratian is on his way with an army. But Gratian is slow. He's only on the fringes of the Balkans.

As soon as he started to move his troops, there was some trouble on the Rhine. Because the people on the other side of the frontier watch. frontier like a hawk. So they're looking at Roman army movements for any opportunities that might arise. So Gratian is slow, and then Valens is sitting not far from Constantinople with his army waiting for Gratian. The idea is clearly that you're going to