阴木猪年 (female Wood-
Pig) 502 or 121 or −651 — to — 阳火鼠年 (male Fire-
Rat) 503 or 122 or −650
Year 376 (CCCLXXVI) was a
leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the
Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Valens and Augustus (or, less frequently, year 1129 Ab urbe condita). The denomination 376 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the
Anno Dominicalendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.
Events
By place
Roman Empire
Gothic War: Emperor
Valens permits the Visigothic chieftain
Fritigern and his people to cross the
Danube from
Thrace (later
Romania), and settle on Roman soil in
Lower Moesia, on the condition that they provide soldiers to the
legions. The
Visigoths embark by troops on boats and
rafts, and
canoes made from hollowed
tree trunks. The river is swollen by frequent rains; a large number try to swim and are drowned in their struggle against the force of the stream.
The
Greuthungi, led by
Alatheus and Saphrax, displaced by the predations of the
Huns and
Alans, request
asylum within the
Roman Empire. They are refused. The Roman frontier forces stretched to the breaking point, they slip across the Danube and unite with Fritigern. With their situation critical and desperately short of
food, discontent is rising amongst the
Goths.
The Romans fail to disarm the Visigoths, bungle administration of the refugees, and
mistreat them, taking some of their children as slaves. The Goths break out of their containment area along the Danube and strike south towards the low-lying fertile region near
Marcianople (
Bulgaria). Although defying the local Roman officials, they are not in open revolt.
Lupicinus, count (Comes) of Thrace, tries to bring the Visigoths back under control. He invites Fritigern and the Gothic leaders to a
banquet, letting them believe that in addition to food and drink, they can discuss provisions for their people. During the feast, Lupicinus tries to assassinate the Gothic delegation. Fritigern escapes and the Goths begin looting and burning the
farms and
Roman villas near Marcianople.
Lupicinus attacks the Visigoths 9 miles outside Marcianople with hastily gathered local troops. His force (5,000 men) is annihilated and the Goths equip themselves with Roman armour and weapons. Fritigern marches south towards
Adrianople (
Turkey).
Fearing they will join Fritigern, Roman troops of Gothic origin stationed in Adrianople are ordered by Valens to move east. The soldiers request a two-day delay to prepare and ask for food and money for the journey. However, the
chief magistrate of Adrianople refuses and the Goths break out in open rebellion. They inflict heavy casualties among the citizens. Arming themselves with Roman equipment, they join forces with Fritigern.
Winter – Fritigern attempts an unsuccessful
siege of Adrianople. His troops try to storm the
city walls, but abandon the attacks and break into small bands, better able to
forage and feed themselves. Roman prisoners switch sides and give the Goths a valuable source of local intelligence.