Valens Biography and Timeline

Birth of Valens

Birth of Valens, 2nd son of Gratianus the Elder, founder of the Valentian House

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Succession

Succeeds as Emperor of the East, named co-Augustus by his elder brother Valentinian

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Rebellion of Rebels in Ancyra

The rebellion is suppressed

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Battle of Nacolea

Defeats the usurper Procopius at Nacolea

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Rebellion of Rebels in Ancyra

The rebellion is suppressed. Forced to seek refuge in Ancyra & wait for the support of his brother Valentinian I

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Rebellion of distant cousin of Julian, Procopius

A distant cousin of Julian, Procopius, raises the standard of revolt

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Rebellion of Rebels in Procopius

Procopius declares himself as Emperor at Constantinople

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Rebellion of Rebels in Procopius

Defeats the Goths who support the usurper Procopius

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Rebellion of Rebels in Procopius

Defeats the Goths who support the usurper Procopius

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Procopius Advances Into Phrygia

Procopius moved into Phrygia while trying to defend his contested claim to the eastern imperial throne.

Valens Turns Toward Phrygia

Valens redirected his forces toward Phrygia after the rival imperial armies had initially missed one another.

Procopius Claims Constantinian Kinship

Procopius advertised his connection with the family of Constantine to attract soldiers during his rebellion.

Valens Contests Dynastic Legitimacy

Valens challenged the dynastic arguments by which Procopius tried to win military allegiance.

Arbitio Supports Valens

The veteran commander Arbitio gave his influence to Valens during the campaign against Procopius.

Gomoarius Loses Military Support

Troops serving under the Procopian commander Gomoarius abandoned their allegiance as the rebellion weakened.

Hormisdas Resists Procopian Collapse

The Persian prince Hormisdas was associated in a surviving account with resistance to the defections undermining Procopius.

Rival Armies Approach Nacolea

The forces of Valens and Procopius approached the area of Nacolea in the decisive phase of the rebellion.

Battle Near Nacolea Begins

The decisive military encounter between the imperial rivals took place near Nacolea in Phrygia.

Aglio Abandons Procopius

The commander Aglio defected during the fighting near Nacolea, critically weakening Procopius.

Procopian Army Disintegrates

Defections among the rebel troops deprived Procopius of the military backing necessary to continue his campaign.

Valens Secures Battlefield Advantage

Valens emerged from the confrontation near Nacolea with his principal rival effectively defeated.

Procopius Flees Defeat

Following the collapse of his forces, Procopius went into hiding rather than continue open resistance.

Florentius Accompanies Procopius

Florentius, associated with the garrison of Nicaea, initially accompanied Procopius after the defeat.

Barchalba Accompanies Fugitive

Barchalba was one of the companions who remained with Procopius immediately after his forces dispersed.

Fugitives Betray Procopius

Florentius and Barchalba eventually surrendered the fugitive claimant to the forces of Valens.

Procopius Delivered To Valens

The capture of Procopius brought an effective end to his attempt to displace Valens.

Procopius Executed In May

Procopius was executed on 27 May 366 according to the consular chronicle, following his capture.

Betrayers Face Imperial Punishment

Ancient accounts state that the men who surrendered Procopius were themselves punished by Valens.

Accounts Disagree On Execution

Surviving ancient historians give conflicting accounts of the manner in which Procopius was killed.

Ammianus Describes Beheading

Ammianus Marcellinus records Procopius as being beheaded after his capture rather than killed by the method described in later accounts.

Socrates Describes Alternative Death

Socrates Scholasticus reports a different and particularly violent version of Procopius's execution.

Philostorgius Recounts Procopius Fate

Philostorgius likewise described Procopius as beheaded but differed from other writers concerning the punishment of a betrayer.

Nacolea Ends Usurpers Campaign

The defeat associated with Nacolea ended Procopius's brief military challenge to the authority of Valens.

Valens Restores Eastern Authority

After Procopius's fall, Valens could restore control over the eastern imperial territories disrupted by civil war.

Rebellion Exposes Army Loyalties

The campaign demonstrated how quickly the allegiance of late Roman military units could shift between rival emperors.

Phrygian Campaign Concludes

The struggle in Phrygia brought the active Procopian rebellion to its decisive conclusion.

Procopius Loses Constantinian Appeal

Procopius's claimed dynastic legitimacy proved insufficient once senior officers and soldiers abandoned him.

Valens Triumphs Over Rival

The Nacolea campaign consolidated Valens's position as eastern emperor after the instability of 365 and 366.

Ancient Historians Preserve Battle

Accounts by Ammianus and ecclesiastical historians supply the principal narrative evidence for the events near Nacolea.

Death of Valens

Death of Valens, in battle against the Visigoths

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