The Byzantine Emperors witnessed the disintegration of the western Roman Empire which did not survive past the fifth century. Contrary to the latter, the Byzantine Empire would subsist the successive waves of Germanic invasions to endure for another thousand years. During his reign, Emperor Theodosius I (379–395 AD) succeeded in mitigating the disastrous aftermath of the Roman defeat of Adrianople of 378 in the hands of the Visigoths during which his predecessor, Valens was killed. Unable to defeat and expel the Visigoths out of the Empire, Theodosius I eventually reached a compromise by granting them the status of foederatus, officially recognizing them as an equal and independent ally of Rome. In exchange for territory within the Empire that was now
