The Dacians - People of Ancient Times
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THE WARS WITH THE ROMANS (101-102, 105-106 AD)
1. The state of Decebalus
- The state of Decebalus was smaller than tthe kingdom of Burebista, but, it was more united and better organized. The borders of the state were: the rivers Tisza and Siret, the Danube and the Northern Carpathians.
- This period of time, the last decade of thhe 1st century AD and the first years of the 2nd century AD, witnessed the most advanced stage of the Dacian society: the Andesite Sun and the rectangular sanctuaries were built at Sarmizegetusa during the reign of Decebalus; the workshops of metallurgy in the area of the Orastie Mountains were the largest outside the Roman-Greek world. Decebalus also doubled the fortresses of Piatra Rosie and Blidaru.
2. The causes of the new wars
- There are several factors that determined Trajan to resume the conflict with the Dacians: Decebalus violated the peace of 89 (he accepted Roman fugitives into his army and he made military alliances with the enemies of Rome - the Bastarnae, the Roxolanae); Trajan had a desire to disunite the barbarians (to stop the Germans and the Sarmatae from allying against Rome); another important reason was the wealth of Dacia.
3. The army of Decebalus
- We estimate that Decebalus had under his ccommand an army of: 140,000 Dacian soldiers and 20,000 from of his allies.
- His army was well prepared by Roman instruuctors. It was garrisoned into stone fortresses and was, also, equipped with war machines.
4. The war of 101-102
- After three years of preparations, Trajan leaves Rome in March 101 AD. The largest part of his army crossed Danube at Viminacium (in Serbia), on a double bridge of ships. The rest of his army crossed the river at Dierna. The junction of the two parts was made at Tibiscum, from where they headed for Sarmizegetusa.
- Decebalus attacks the Romans at Tapae. Thhere was a great battle, but, although the Dacians were defeated, they withdrew in order.
- The Roman legions reach the system of forttifications in the area of the Orastie Mountains. The arrival of winter and the battles that they had already fought convinced Trajan to interrupt the campaign.
- During the winter, Decebalus, together witth his allies (the Bastarnae and the Roxolanae), attacks the Roman garrisons from the south of the Danube. His plan was to determine the Romans to leave Banat, the part of Dacia that they had occupied. The plan of Decebalus didn't succeed because Trajan came only with a part of his legions and defeated the Dacians. An important battle was fought at Adamclisi (in the south of Drobruja). To commemorate this victory, Trajan built here, in 109, the monument Tropaeum Traiani.
- In the spring of 102 the Romans resume thee battles in Dacia. They advance on their way to Sarmizegetusa. After a long siege, the fortress of Costesti is conquered, and, probably, the fortress of Capalna has the same fate. Decebalus asks for peace and Trajan accepts.
5. The peace of 102
- The peace agreement contained very hard coonditions for Decebalus: The Dacians had to hand over all the Roman weapons and the war machines; they had to destroy the walls of the fortresses; the Dacians renounced at the territories occupied by the Romans (Banat, Oltenia, Muntenia, south of Moldova); they could no longer accept Roman fugitives; they were forbidden to make alliances against Rome.
6. The war of 105-106
- Between 102 and105 both Decebalus and Trajjan made intense preparations for resuming the war. Trajan built, with the help of Apollodor of Damascus, a bridge of stone over Danube, at Drobeta. Decebalus reconstructs his army and fortresses, while he creates new alliances, with the neighbor peoples, against the Romans.
- In June 105 Trajan leaves Rome again. He ccrosses the Danube on the bridge at Drobeta. The main attack is concentrated towards Sarmizegetusa. The Roman army advanced on several routes: through Banat (at Tapae), through Oltenia (on the valley of river Jiu and the valley of river Olt), through Muntenia.
- The fortresses of Costesti, Blidaru and Piiatra Rosie are destroyed. Sarmizegetusa is conquered after a long siege.
- Decebalus retreats in the Eastern Carpathhians, but is followed by the Roman cavalry. Before being caught, he takes his life.
- Until the summer of 106 the last resistancces of the Dacians are defeated. A military diploma, dating from the 11th of August, found at Porolissum, speaks of Dacia as a Roman province.
7. The consequences of the wars
- The Dacian state was suppressed, the greattest part of its territory being transformed into a Roman province, Dacia.
- Trajan returned to Rome with a large amounnt of gold (165 tones) and silver (331 tones) from Dacia, which helped much the Empire's weakened economy, and which was also used for building the Trajan's Forum. Inside the Forum will be erected Trajan's Column (113), to commemorate the battles with the Dacians. This wonderful construction, which still stands up, shows scenes from the two wars.