The Battle of Adrianople, 378 CE, marked the beginning of the end for the Roman Empire. Emperor Valens marched out from Constantinople with an army of 20,000 cavalry and 40,000 infantry and immediately engaged 50,000 Gothic footmen. The battle was going well for the Romans until a Gothic cavalry force numbering 50,000 arrived and routed the Roman cav, leaving the infantry defenseless. Considered one of the worst defeats in Roman history - casulties numbered 40,000, including Valens.