Valens Flavius (303-9 August 378) was the Emperor of the Eastern Roman Empire from 363 to 378, succeeding Jovian and preceding Theodosius I. Fighting a series of wars with the Sassanid Empire, Sarmatians, and rebels, Valens also fought the Visigoths and Ostrogoths when they invaded his lands in 378 and died in battle at the Battle of Adrianople.
Biography[]
Valens Flavius was born in Cibalae (present-day Croatia) into an Illyrian family, son of Gratian the Elder. He was the older brother of Valentinian I, and when Jovian died and Valentinian became emperor of the Roman Empire, he gave eastern Rome to Valens and the two became emperors in 363 AD. Valens married Agrippina, and had three children: Julianus Flavius, Gnaeus Flavius, and Luca Flavius. Valens managed the Eastern Roman Empire, and when he fell ill in 364 AD, Theodosius the Elder became the regent. When he recovered from illness, Valens took command of the Eastern Roman Empire's army, and when the Goths invaded in 378 AD, he resisted them. He was struck down in the Battle of Adrianople, and after his death, Theodosius I became emperor.
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