ATHAN'ARIC 381). A king of the Western Goths (Visigoths), whose settlements lay on the north bank of the lower Danube. flaying taken advantage of the weakness of the Roman Empire when the imperial armies were engaged in suppressing the rebellion of Pro copius, war was declared against him by the Emperor Valens. Athanaric acted strictly on the defensive during two campaigns, in which the Romans gained no advantage over him; but in the third year of the war (A.D. 369), he hazarded a general battle, and was defeated, whereupon he sued for peace, and, with that ob ject, had a conference with Valens in a boat on the Danube. Peace was concluded, and Athan aric had his attention occupied in settling dis sensions arising out of the Arian controversy, which then agitated his people, when the first advance of the Huns on Europe alarmed the Gothic nation. Athanaric attempted to secure the eastern borders of his kingdom; but the Buns forced the passages of the Dnieper, de feated the Goths, and advanced in great force into the plains of Dacia. When, in 375, the
Western Goths were received by the Romans as allies, and had settlements granted them on the south of the Danube, Athanaric, with a part of his people, refused to accompany them, removing to the west, and fortifying himself against the new enemy. In 380, however, he was obliged to retire, when he accepted the hospitality of the Empire, and removed to Constantinople, where he met with a cordial and honorable reception by the Emperor Theodosius. In 381 died Friti germ King of the Goths that had 'settled to the smith of the Danube, and Athanaric was there upon made king of the whole Western Gothic nation. He concluded a treaty of peace with the Empire, and died at Constantinople before the close of the year. Consult: Hodgkin, Italy and Ilcr Invaders, Vol. 1. (Oxford, 1880).