Constantinople Saved, and Gratian’s Law of Free Worship

Such was the end of Valens. The barbarians, flushed with victory, overran Thrace and advanced to the gates of Constantinople. In this emergency a few of the allied Saracens sent by Mavia, together with many of the common people, gave great service. It is reported that Dominica, the wife of Valens, supplied money from the public treasury, and some of the people armed themselves in haste, attacked the barbarians, and drove them from the city. [a]

Gratian, who at this time reigned with his brother over the whole Roman Empire, disapproved of the recent persecution that had been carried on to put down the differences in religious belief, and he recalled all who had been banished on account of their religion. He also enacted a law that every person should be freely permitted to practice his own religion and to hold assemblies, with the exception of the Manichaeans and the followers of Photinus and Eunomius. [b]