05-08-2014, 10:57 AM
Between 367-369AD Valens carried out three campaigns against the Goths. The first one was launched from the Province of Moesia Secunda, at a place called the 'fortress of Daphne'. Unfortunately the Goths had been alerted to the presence of the Romans and fled into the 'woods and fens' located in that region north of the Danube. Valens offered a reward to anyone who brought back a severed head of a Goth and not only did the troops go in to root out the Goths, even the baggage guards took part in the slaughter.
The second campaign in 368 came to an abrupt end when the Danube flooded. This was launched further east along the Danube
The third and final campaign in 369 was much more successful. It was launched from the town of Novidunum further east again along the Danube. Valens encountered Athanaricus, who Ammianus states was actually an Iudex, or King, of the Greuthingi Goths and not the Tervingi as he would become sometime later. Valens met the Goths in battle and was victorious.
So, in the area north of the Danube facing the province of Moesia Secunda there were patches of marshland the Goths could hide in.
The second campaign in 368 came to an abrupt end when the Danube flooded. This was launched further east along the Danube
The third and final campaign in 369 was much more successful. It was launched from the town of Novidunum further east again along the Danube. Valens encountered Athanaricus, who Ammianus states was actually an Iudex, or King, of the Greuthingi Goths and not the Tervingi as he would become sometime later. Valens met the Goths in battle and was victorious.
So, in the area north of the Danube facing the province of Moesia Secunda there were patches of marshland the Goths could hide in.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
