The Battle of Adrianople: The Anatomy of Error

Abstract: This article examines the Battle of Adrianople, a pivotal and catastrophic episode in Roman history. Drawing upon an analysis of near-contemporary literary sources, it elucidates the intricate dynamics that culminated in the battle, thereby unveiling previously overlooked factors underlying the Roman defeat while revisiting and refining some key points of scholarly debate. The study acknowledges the import of military variables, such as the misleading reconnaissance report and the significant impact of Gothic cavalry, while contending that political imperatives fatally outweighed military judgement in Roman decision-making. Consequently, the Eastern Roman army was drawn into a premature engagement with a well-prepared adversary adept at navigating the intricacies of Roman politics and military tactics.