Where was the Roman Army in AD408?

[Robert Vermaat]

[quote pid='345989' dateline='1510652439']
Anyway, if this battle really did see the destruction of 6000 men (or 5900!) of the best and strongest units in the Roman army at the time, it must have been fairly important!

[..]

This begs the question of what happened to all the other famous and prestigious units in the western army - the Ioviani and Herculiani, Bracchiati and Petulantes Seniores, etc. Could they really have just melted away in the conflicts and crises of the early 5th century?

Zosimus does not actually tell us that the army has annihilated, only that Alaric cut them off? I mean, that could indicated that he came between Valens and his army. especially if they were crack troops, defeat would have induced more authors to write about it? It would also perhaps answer your second question.

I keep open the possibility that Valens was seperated from his army, which either pulled back (leaderless) and left Alaric alone, or joined him.