Page "Battle of Abritus" Paragraph 15

Gallus, who became emperor upon Decius ' death, negotiated a treaty with the Goths under duress, which allowed them to keep their booty and return to their homes on the other side of the Danube.

It is also possible that he agreed to pay an annual tribute in return for the Goths ' promise to respect Roman territory.

This humiliating treaty, the contemporary spread of plague with its devastating effects and the chaotic situation in the East with the Sassanian invasions left Gallus with a very bad reputation amongst the latter Roman historians.

However, D. S. Potter suggests that, before the defeat at Abritus, the situation was not so serious that the available Roman forces would not be able to manage the invasions.

Therefore, it is Decius ' bad conduct which was responsible for the disastrous turn of the events.

In any case, Gallus had no choice but to get rid of the Goths as soon as possible.