The Chronology Of Valens’ Dealings With Persia And Armenia, 364-378ce

Abstract

This chapter reexamines the chronology of foreign affairs on Rome's eastern frontier during the reign of Valens. The best chronology of Rome's dealings with Persia, Armenia and Iberia during the reign of Valens was established by Otto Seeck in 1906. Seeck combined his results from Ammianus with his chronological analysis of the Codex Theodosianus to fashion a largely convincing narrative for east Roman foreign policy during Valens' reign in his Geschichte des Untergangs der antiken Welt . Ammianus' chronology is probably largely accurate, but a scheme like Seeck's, which takes account only of the winters Ammianus mentions, would seem to squeeze too many events into too few years. As Ammianus indicates, news of Sapur's invasion in 369 prompted Valens to send Arintheus with forces to restore Pap and shore up Armenia against another Persian invasion. Keywords: Armenia; chronological analysis; Codex Theodosianus ; east Roman foreign policy; Otto Seeck; Persian invasion; Valens' reign