The Dacian Wars, 84–106

Abstract

Abstract The Dacians were a formidable foe, politically unified and equipped with sophisticated military technology. In the winter of 84–85, they crossed the Danube into Roman Moesia. They were ejected in 85, and in 86 the Romans struck at Dacia. The Roman army was defeated with the loss of its general, but the situation was stabilized by the arrival of the emperor Domitian. In 88 the Romans invaded Dacia again, and in 89 they attacked their German allies. After suffering reverses in the field, however, Domitian concluded peace. No narrative of Trajan's conquest of Dacia survives, and Trajan's Column, though depicting scenes from this war, is difficult to interpret. Trajan invaded Dacia in 101, winning the hard‐fought battle of Tapae. In 102, a three‐pronged invasion was launched, which led to the Dacians agreeing to peace terms. In 105, the Second Dacian War was launched on a pretext. Unable to withstand the Roman armies, the Dacian king Decebalus unsuccessfully plotted to assassinate Trajan but was eventually cornered and committed suicide. Dacia was added to the empire.