Athanaric or
Atanaric ( presumably from
aþni "year" and
reiks "king"; ; died 381) was king of several branches of the
Thervingian Goths for at least two decades in the 4th century. Athanaric made his first appearance in recorded history in 369, when he engaged in battle with the
Eastern Roman Emperor Valens and ultimately negotiated a favorable peace for his people. During his reign, many Thervings had converted to
Arian Christianity, which Athanaric vehemently opposed, fearing that
Christianity would destroy
Gothic culture. According to the report of
Sozomenos, more than 300 Christians were killed in
Athanaric's persecution during the 370s.