Failure of Empire: Valens and the Roman State in the Fourth Century A.D. (Transformation of the Classical Heritage)

On the afternoon of June 26, 363, the emperor Julian was pierced through the side with a spear in combat.

Failure of Empire is the first comprehensive biography of the Roman emperor Valens and his troubled reign (a.d. 364-78). Valens will always be remembered for his spectacular defeat and death at the hands of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople. This singular misfortune won him a front-row seat among history's great losers. By the time he was killed, his empire had been coming unglued for several years: the Goths had overrun the Balkans; Persians, Isaurians, and Saracens were threatening the east; the economy was in disarray; and pagans and Christians alike had been exiled, tortured, and executed in his religious persecutions. Valens had not, however, entirely failed in his job as emperor. He was an admirable administrator, a committed defender of the frontiers, and a ruler who showed remarkable sympathy for the needs of his subjects.

In lively style and rich detail, Lenski incorporates a broad range of new material, from archaeology to Gothic and Armenian sources, in a study that illuminates the social, cultural, religious, economic, administrative, and military complexities of Valens's realm. Failure of Empire offers a nuanced reconsideration of Valens the man and shows both how he applied his strengths to meet the expectations of his world and how he ultimately failed in his efforts to match limited capacities to limitless demands.

Failure of Empire is the first comprehensive biography of the Roman emperor Valens and his troubled reign (a.d. 364-78). Valens will always be remembered for his spectacular defeat and death at the hands of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople. This singular misfortune won him a front-row seat among history's great losers. By the time he was killed, his empire had been coming unglued for several years: the Goths had overrun the Balkans; Persians, Isaurians, and Saracens were threatening the east; the economy was in disarray; and pagans and Christians alike had been exiled, tortured, and executed in his religious persecutions. Valens had not, however, entirely failed in his job as emperor. He was an admirable administrator, a committed defender of the frontiers, and a ruler who showed remarkable sympathy for the needs of his subjects.

In lively style and rich detail, Lenski incorporates a broad range of new material, from archaeology to Gothic and Armenian sources, in a study that illuminates the social, cultural, religious, economic, administrative, and military complexities of Valens's realm. Failure of Empire offers a nuanced reconsideration of Valens the man and shows both how he applied his strengths to meet the expectations of his world and how he ultimately failed in his efforts to match limited capacities to limitless demands. "Failure of Empire is the first comprehensive biography of the Roman emperor Valens and his troubled reign (A. D. 364-78). Valens will always be remembered for his spectacular defeat and death at the hands of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople. This singular misfortune won him a front-row seat among history's great losers. By the time he was killed, his empire had been coming unglued for several years: the Goths had overrun the Balkans; Persians, Isaurians, and Saracens were threatening the east; the economy was in disarray; and pagans and Christians alike had been exiled, tortured, and executed in his religious persecutions. Valens had not, however, entirely failed in his job as emperor. He was an admirable administrator, a committed defender of the frontiers, and a ruler who showed remarkable sympathy for the needs of his subjects."--BOOK JACKET. Frontmatter PREFACE (page ix) ACKNOWLEDGMENTS (page xi) ABBREVIATIONS (page xii) MAPS (page xv) INTRODUCTION (page 1) Chapter 1. The Pannonian Emperors Chapter 2. The Revolt of Procopius Chapter 3. Valen's First Gothic War Chapter 4. Valens and the Eastern Frontier Chapter 5. Religion under the Valentiniani Chapter 6. Administration and Finance under Valentinian and Valens Chapter 7. The Disaster at Adrianople Epilogue (page 369) APPENDIX A. DATABLE EVIDENCE FOR VALENTINIANIC FORTIFICATIONS (page 375) APPENDIX B. SHAPUR'S ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURES IN ARMENIA (page 381) APPENDIX C. NATURAL DISASTERS AND THE REIGN OF VALENS (page 385) APPENDIX D. CIVIC STRUCTURES BUILT UNDER IMPERIAL SPONSORSHIP, A.D. 364-378 (page 393) BIBLIOGRAPHY: PRIMARY SOURCES (page 403) BIBLIOGRAPHY: SECONDARY SOURCES (page 408) INDEX (page 443) Valens will always be remembered for his spectacular defeat and death at the hands of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople. This singular misfortune won him a front-row seat among history's great losers. This book presents the biography of the Roman emperor Valens and his troubled reign (AD 364-78). This is a comprehensive biography of the Roman emperor Valens and his troubled reign (AD 364-78). Valens will always be remembered for his spectacular defeat and death at the hands of the Goths in the Battle of Adrianople. The text incorporates material from archaeology to Gothic and Armenian sources