Valens in Roman Biography

Valens, (Flavius,) Emperor of the East, born about 328 A.D., was a brother of Valentinian I., to whom he was indebted for the imperial power. He began to reign, in 364, over Thrace, Asia, and Egypt. In 366 he suppressed a rebellion of Procopius. He was an Arian, and persecuted the orthodox. He defeated the Goths in 369, after which he waged war against Sapor, (Shapoor,) King of Persia. His dominions were invaded by the Goths, by whom he was defeated and killed in a great battle near Adrianople in 378 A.D. See Gibbon, "Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire;" Tillemont, " Histoire des Empereurs ;" " Nouvelle Biographie Generale."