Valens

Valens, born on January first in the year three hundred twenty-eight, served as Roman emperor from three hundred sixty-four until his death in three hundred seventy-eight. His military career was largely unremarkable until he was appointed co-emperor by his elder brother, Valentinian I, who entrusted him with the eastern half of the Roman Empire. Valens faced numerous challenges during his reign, including internal strife and external threats, particularly from the Goths.

In three hundred sixty-six, Valens successfully defeated the usurper Procopius, but his military campaigns against the Goths in three hundred sixty-seven and three hundred sixty-nine were met with mixed results. His focus shifted to the eastern frontier, where he contended with the ongoing threat from Persia, especially in Armenia, as well as conflicts with the Saracens and Isaurians. Notably, he initiated the construction of the Aqueduct of Valens in Constantinople, which surpassed all aqueducts in Rome in length.

The Gothic War erupted in three hundred seventy-six, following a poorly managed attempt to settle the Goths in the Balkans. Valens returned from the east to confront the Goths directly, but a lack of coordination with his nephew, Gratian, the western emperor, and ineffective battle strategies culminated in a disastrous defeat at the Battle of Adrianople in three hundred seventy-eight, where Valens and much of the eastern Roman army perished.

Despite being a capable administrator who alleviated the tax burden on his subjects, Valens was often criticized for his indecisiveness and mediocre military leadership. His reign was marred by a reputation for paranoia, leading to numerous treason trials and executions. In matters of faith, Valens sought a middle ground between Nicene Christianity and various non-trinitarian sects, while maintaining a hands-off approach towards pagan practices.