10-28-2013, 04:41 PM
Why didn't the Romans bother finishing off the Goths after Adrianople? The Gothic army was no means massive(15,000 Adrianople) and a bunch of scattered civilians. When Fridigern reach Constantinople, a sortie of Arab Foederettii cavalry drove them off. Gratian I believed defeated some Goths in small numbers. Why did they negotiate with the Goths?
Were the Roman border troops that incapable of fielding an army to meet the Goths in combat? What happened to Valen's field army in Persia?
I heard in Gibbon's book that the Roman Emperors at this time were under huge pressure from the church and arostacracy, any military defeat was a disgrace and often avoided battles and were defensive in tactics. Theodosis was often very defensive and needed manpower so he employed the Goths as Human shields at Fridigus.
Were the Roman border troops that incapable of fielding an army to meet the Goths in combat? What happened to Valen's field army in Persia?
I heard in Gibbon's book that the Roman Emperors at this time were under huge pressure from the church and arostacracy, any military defeat was a disgrace and often avoided battles and were defensive in tactics. Theodosis was often very defensive and needed manpower so he employed the Goths as Human shields at Fridigus.
