10-27-2013, 12:20 PM
There is no evidence that the Roman army was any worse upto the time of Adrianople than it had been in previous centuries.
Perhaps the truth about Adrianople is that Valens actually did not expect to fight a battle that day, instead he did as Fritigern had asked in the 'ssecret letter' sent the night before i.e. turn up at the Gothic encampment in full battle array, negotiate peace terms and then return back to Adrianople before darkness fell. This may be the reason why Valens did not take the baggage train.
The army Theodosius commanded by necessity had to rely on an influx of Gothic troops as two thirds of the Eastern army no longer existed, having either been killed or deserted at Adrianople itself.
Perhaps the truth about Adrianople is that Valens actually did not expect to fight a battle that day, instead he did as Fritigern had asked in the 'ssecret letter' sent the night before i.e. turn up at the Gothic encampment in full battle array, negotiate peace terms and then return back to Adrianople before darkness fell. This may be the reason why Valens did not take the baggage train.
The army Theodosius commanded by necessity had to rely on an influx of Gothic troops as two thirds of the Eastern army no longer existed, having either been killed or deserted at Adrianople itself.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
