The Danube Crisis under Valentinians Rule - Essay Sample

Valentinian is one of the greatest Roman Empire, who become to power after the death of Julian. It was very challenging for Valentinian to rein, protect, and ensure peace within an empire that had undergone years of internal turmoil. Valentinian was a strong co-emperor of Roman, despite having the ability to establish a strong administration, he was hated by the Ammianus Marcellinus, a Roman historian, because of his demeanor, being born in a wealthy family, well educated, and being that he was wealthy. He had a bad temper and was in the constant campaign against barbarians tribes who encircled his empire. One of the barbarian tribes that the Roman Empire wedged war against was the Quadi, who occupied the northern Danube.

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Roman Empire constructed a fortification Quadi territory in AD 373, making them angry and led to protests (Roberts, W). Even after they build fortifications on Quadic territory, the Roman Empire failed to stop and to agree to talk about the construction and other issues aired by Quadi representatives. Their disapproval of building fortification delayed the project. There was still great tension, and they teamed up with the Sarmatians, another barbarian group, to declare war against the Valentinian rule (Valentinian I - 364-375 AD | Armstrong Economics, 2017). However, they did not entirely succeed. Several diplomatic talks were held between the Quadi leaders and the Roman Empire officials to reduce the tension and possible conflict between the two groups but, they were not fruitful to halt the continuation of the fortifications.

After failing several attempts to bridge the gap with the Quadi, one of the sons of Roman Officials, Marcellianus, organized for the elimination of all the tribal leaders. Marcellianus invited all the Quadi leaders in a peace banquet to agree and establish peace between the two groups and to enable the Roman Empire to complete constructing the defense wall. However, Marcellianus ordered the killing of all the leaders who attended the peace banquet (Roberts, W). The arranged mass murder of Quadi leaders angered the Quadi tribe.

They, therefore, teamed up with another barbarian group called the Sarmatians to wedge war with the Roman Empire (Valentinian I - 364-375 AD | Armstrong Economics, 2017). However, they could not manage to intrude on the fortified cities and resorted to pillaging the Roman countryside. The Valentinians decided to send the Roman army due to the constant attacks and pillage on the Roman provinces by the Sarmations and Quadi. Valentinians established a special force to deal with both barbaric tribes. However, they were unable to force them out due to poor coordination and were defeated by the Sarmitions.

According to Heather (2007), the leading intent of Valentinians’ army was to eliminate the Quadi. They left Trier after the spring in the year AD 374 from the Gallic headquarters and come across the Sarmatians. The Sarmatians begged for forgiveness after realizing that the Roman troops came to wedge war against them and to take their resources. Valentinian granted them and forgave them for all their criminalities and promised to investigate the cause of their initial attacks and punish those responsible. However, he ignored the arranged mass murder of Quadic leaders that was orchestrated by Marcellianus. Instead, he blamed the Quadi tribe for being accountable for the kerfuffle (Wick, J., 2017). They also claimed that the Roman Empire was not at fault, and the Quadi were to be held accountable despite Marcellianus murdering dozens of Quadic leaders whom he invited at peace banquet. The Roman Empire later raced and conducted a series of attacks in Quadi territory, killing children and women and taking properties and every resource without much resistance (Valentinian I - 364-375 AD | Armstrong Economics, 2017).

When the emperor was preparing for another pillaging and killing of innocent community members, the Quadi officials begged him for mercy. They were forgiven but were to supply the empire with the fresh troops. The Quadi officials were given the opportunity for a final concession to air their problems and find the possible solutions (Wick, J., 2017). During their meeting, the Quadi envoy ignored the hierarchy and failed to show respect as per the emperor’s assertions. Valentinian considered this disrespectful and pronounced them guilty (Wick, J., 2017). They were expected to kneel, kiss the emperor’s ring, and accept all the guilt (Valentinian I - 364-375 AD | Armstrong Economics, 2017).

However, the Quadic representatives did not believe in and cohere to the Roman authority. Additionally, they maintained that they were not responsible for previous violence, attacks, and the death of their fellow tribes’ men. They believed all the violence and pillages could not have occurred if it were not for the Roman Emperor invasion on their territory under the rule of Valentinian. At the meeting, the Quadi mediators would only agree to issues that touch and benefit their people. However, they were not in a position to speak and represent all the views of the Quadi tribe and leaders (Wick, J., 2017). Quadi delegates advanced during the argument of the magistrates and the Quadi tribe that was called by the Valentinian. Valentinian was apoplectic and hysterical. During his meeting with the Quadi negotiators, out of frustration and anger, he began yelling and screaming uncontrollably (Wick, J., 2017). As he continued violently berating the Quadi negotiators, he suddenly fainted and fell on the floor. Valentinian experienced a fatal brain injury and died of a brain hemorrhage.

References

Pearson, B., 2010. Valentinian Ethics and Paraenetic Discourse: Determining the Social Function of Moral Exhortation in Valentinian Christianity - By Philip L. Tite. Religious Studies Review, 36(1), pp.79-79.

Roberts, W., n.d. Valentinian I Emperor Of Rome. [online] Homepages.rpi.edu. Available at: <http://homepages.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy2/ps15/ps15_238.htm> [Accessed 22 September 2020].

Armstrongeconomics.com. 2017. Valentinian I - 364-375 AD | Armstrong Economics. [online] Available at: <https://www.armstrongeconomics.com/research/monetary-history-of-the-world/roman-empire/chronology_-by_-emperor/fall-of-the-house-of-constantine/valentinian-i-364-375-ad/> [Accessed 22 September 2020].

Heather, P., 2007. The Fall Of The Roman Empire. Oxford: Oxford Univ. Press.

Wick, J., 2017. The Hilarious Death Of The Roman Emperor Valentinian The First. [online] Medium. Available at: <https://medium.com/@MightBeJohn/the-hilarious-death-of-the-roman-emperor-valentinian-the-first-f464096bc016> [Accessed 22 September 2020].