Flavins Valens, a Roman emperor of the East, born about A. D. 328, killed at Adrianople, Aug. 9, 378. In March, 364, his brother Valentinian I. made him emperor of the East. In the following year Procopius was proclaimed emperor by the people of Constantinople, and met and defeated Valens at Chalcedon; but in 366, after two successful battles, Valens captured Procopius and slew him. After reducing the taxes one fourth, and being baptized, in 367 he began a war with the Goths who had assisted Procopius, and at first was successful, compelling Athanaric to sue for peace. Returning in triumph, he began a desultory war against the Persians, chiefly in defence of Armenia. In the mean time the Goths, retiring before the Huns, had been permitted to settle in Moesia; but they soon became discontented, ravaged Thrace and Macedonia, and defeated the Romans in several battles. The last of these, at Adrianople, in which Valens perished, was one of the severest reverses the Romans ever experienced.