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SUCH was the fate of Valens. The barbarians, flushed with
victory, overran Thrace, and advanced to the gates of
Constantinople. In this emergency, a few of the confederate
Saracens sent by Maria, together with many of the populace, were of
great service. It is reported that Dominica, wife of Valens,
furnished money out of the public treasury, and some of the people,
after hastily arming themselves, attacked the barbarians, and drove
them from the city.
Gratian, who at this period reigned conjointly with his brother over
the whole Roman Empire, disapproved of the late persecution that had
been carried on to check the diversity in religious creeds, and
recalled all those who had been banished on account of their religion.
He also enacted a law by which it was decreed that every individual
should be freely permitted the exercise of his own religion, and should
be allowed to hold assemblies, with the exception of the Manichaeans
and the followers of Photinus and Eunomius.
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