The Roman defeat at Adrianople in 378 CE by the Visigothic forces under Fritigern marked a turning point in Roman history. The battle itself saw the devastating loss of the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens and a significant portion of the Roman army. This military disaster shattered the aura of Roman invincibility that had persisted for centuries.
The battle’s consequences were far-reaching. It significantly weakened Roman military power and hastened the decline of the Western Roman Empire. The victory emboldened barbarian tribes, leading to increased incursions into Roman territory and the eventual settlement of the Visigoths within the empire as foederati. This marked a shift in Roman policy, with the empire increasingly relying on barbarian troops within its own military structure, a factor that further contributed to its internal instability. The battles outcome also contributed to the growing division between the Eastern and Western halves of the Roman Empire.
