Throughout the third century, the Goths had raided Roman territory, but in the early fourth century, after the significant reforms under Diocletian, Roman-Gothic relations calmed and the Goths settled north of the Black Sea. In 376 they set out again, however, forced to flee by the Huns coming from the east. In the summer of that year, they were on the border with the Roman Empire on the Danube River, begging for asylum. Emperor Valens (r. 364-378), preparing for a campaign against the Sasanid Empire, granted their wish and allowed them to settle in the province of Thrace.
The Goths were divided into two groups: the Thervingi and the Greuthungi. The Thervingi were admitted and brought across the Danube into the Empire, but the Greuthungi remained in Dacia. Due to a lack of food, the Thervingi rebelled, forcing the Roman border troops to withdraw south to quell their rebellion. This allowed the Greuthungi to cross the lightly guarded Danube River. Once the two Goth tribes
