According to the video embedded (timestamp 30:30) Fritigern sent multiple envoys to the Romans before the battle of Adrianople. What if rather than continuing to deal with the Goths militarily, the agreement was made with a condition?
Rather than simply King of the Goths and retreating - the Goths and Romans would agree to a Gothic Kingdom of the lands north of the Danube and East of the Carpathians. (at least at first). With the Romans agreeing to provide support, specifically building defensive citadels on the northern rivers and in the Carpathians, in exchange for tribute. Effectively turning the Goths from invader to client state that could be a buffer to the Huns that the Goths would be aware of.
If this was done, and effectively closed off the Danube Gap, what would the impact have been?
Personally - I think it would have (if the Goths stayed loyal) have meant the settlement and fortification of a valuable region for the Romans (one that could be conquered in the future if needs be) that would add defense in depth for the Danube frontier, and allow the Romans to fight the Huns without taking too much damage to their infrastructure directly, instead letting the Goths suffer the damage.
The one problem I see is that the Romans and Goths still need to ensure there is enough food - so I assume the Romans and Goths would need to establish some sort of increased granary system. The idea of the Romans and Goths trading in agricultural goods and food like the Germanic people on the Rhine seems really interesting.
Rather than simply King of the Goths and retreating - the Goths and Romans would agree to a Gothic Kingdom of the lands north of the Danube and East of the Carpathians. (at least at first). With the Romans agreeing to provide support, specifically building defensive citadels on the northern rivers and in the Carpathians, in exchange for tribute. Effectively turning the Goths from invader to client state that could be a buffer to the Huns that the Goths would be aware of.
If this was done, and effectively closed off the Danube Gap, what would the impact have been?
Personally - I think it would have (if the Goths stayed loyal) have meant the settlement and fortification of a valuable region for the Romans (one that could be conquered in the future if needs be) that would add defense in depth for the Danube frontier, and allow the Romans to fight the Huns without taking too much damage to their infrastructure directly, instead letting the Goths suffer the damage.
The one problem I see is that the Romans and Goths still need to ensure there is enough food - so I assume the Romans and Goths would need to establish some sort of increased granary system. The idea of the Romans and Goths trading in agricultural goods and food like the Germanic people on the Rhine seems really interesting.
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