with an offer of terms and a letter for Valens. The peace overtures are rejected. August 9 – Battle of Adrianople: A large Roman army is defeated by the Thervingi. Valens is killed along with two-thirds of his army. The Goths attack Adrianople; they attempt to scale the city walls with ladders but are repelled by the defenders, who drop lumps of masonry. The Goths, supported by the Huns, move on to Constantinople. Their progress is checked by the Saracens, recruited from Arab tribes who control the eastern fringes of the empire. October – The Greuthungi, faced with food shortages, split off and move west into Pannonia. Followed by their families, they raid villages and farmland. Mesoamerica Siyaj K'ak' begins to replace Mayan kings with relatives of Spearthrower Owl, emperor of Teotihuacan. Siyaj K'ak' conquers Waka on January 8. Siyaj K'ak' conquers Tikal on January 16. Siyaj K'ak' conquers Uaxactun. By topic Architecture Valens completes the aqueduct of Constantinople begun by Constantine I. Religion Gregory of Nazianzus is ordained bishop of Constantinople. Pope Damasus I is accused of adultery but is exonerated by Gratian. Births Germanus of Auxerre, Christian bishop (approximate date) Deaths August 9 Sebastianus, Roman general (magister peditum) Traianus, Roman general (magister militum) Valens, Roman consul and emperor (b. 328) Flavius Arintheus, Roman politician and general Titus of Bostra, Christian bishop and theologian References