Dacian warfare concerns the armed conflicts of the Dacian tribes that lasted from 10th century B.C up to the 2nd century A.D. Wars amongst Dacian tribes were recorded too in the Balkans. Dacian tribes included more than 30 tribes. The Greeks referred to Dacians as the Getae. Dacians or Getae were North Thracian tribes. The ancient geographer Strabo stated that the Dacians and Getae spoke the same language. Roman Emperor Trajan considered Dacians as dignified and heroic but dangerous. Horace writes of Dacians along with the Scythians as ‘tyrants and fierce barbarians.’ Plato and Aristotle define a tyrant as ‘one who rules without law’. Historian Tacitus writes that ‘Dacians were a people that can never be trusted’. Dacia included areas between the Tisia and the Middle Danube. The Danube is a river in Central Europe, the European Unions longest and the continents second longest after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway. Sarmizegetusa Regia was the capital of the Dacians. Sarmizegetusa was later destroyed by the Romans. Dacia was south to Danubius river, west to Tisia, east to Black Sea and several Dacian settlements were between the rivers Dniester and Hypanis. Carpathian Mountains were located in the middle of Dacia. The Carpathian Mountains is a range of mountains in an arc across Central and Eastern Europe. Therefore Dacia corresponded to the present day Romania and Moldova and parts of Bulgaria, Serbia, Hungary and Ukraine. Dacian tribes had battles with Celts, Ancient Germanics, Sarmatians , Scythians and Romans. Erected on top of a high mountain, Dacia comprised of six citadels. It must not be confused with ‘Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa’, the Roman capital of Dacia built by Roman Emperor Trajan. He was a Roman soldier-emperor. He was second of the ‘Five Good Emperors’ who ruled in the Mediterranean world. In modern Romanian folklore, Trajan is remembered in ‘Trajan wars with the people of the mountains’. Roman conquest of Dacia is considered by historians as the last conquest of the Romans before fall of Roman Empire. The Roman Legions under Emperor Trajan set on offensive against Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa in 106 A.D. Dacia lost and Dacian King Decebalus committed suicide. Burebista was a king of Dacians who unified their tribes. Burebista led plunder and conquest raids across Central and Southeastern Europe. After the assassination of Burebista , Dacians split by a civil war. The Dacians united later under King Decebalus or ‘The Brave’ who fought three wars and negotiated two interregnums of peace against the Roman Empire. Decebalus acted as an independent king rather than a conquered client. The Dacian tribes were highly militarized. They posed a major threat to the Roman province of Lower Danube. The two expeditions were launched against Rome from Dacia under Dacian Emperor Domitian in 87 A.D and 88 A.D. The first expedition was a disaster but the second achieved a peace. The Roman Legions under Emperor Trajan set on offensive against Dacian capital Sarmizegetusa in 106 A.D. Dacia lost and Dacian King Decebalus committed suicide. 13 legions of Roman Emperor Trajan declared Dacian Wars in 101-102 A.D and 105-106 A.D. Trajans forces were successful. The Romans discovered and destroyed the capital Sarmizegetusa’s water supply line. They set fire to the city. Dacia was conquered and transformed into a Roman province. Bicilis, a confidant o King Decebalus, betrayed Dacia and led the Romans to the Dacian treasure. Decebalus escaped the Legions during the siege. But was caught by the Roman cavalry., Decebalus killed himself to avoid capture. Decebalus head and right arm were presented to Roman Emperor Trajan. The Dacians constructed stone strongholds. Dacians fortresses all around Dacia were on a system of circular belts. The defenders after a stronghold loss could retreat to the next one using hidden escape gates. There was no Dacian navy. Dacians fought battles rarely as mercenaries. The Scordisci were the allies of the Dacians. Romans used ‘testudo’ against Dacia. The testudo was used by the Roman Legions during battles. Plutarch was a Greek historian and essayist. Plutarch described testudo or tortoise formation’ as; ‘Then the shield-bearers wheeled round and enclosed the light-armed troops within their ranks, dropped down to one knee, and held their shields out as a defensive barrier. The men behind them held their shields over the heads of the first rank, while the third rank did the same for the second rank. The resulting shape, which is a remarkable sight, looks very like a roof, and is the surest protection against arrows, which just glance off it.’ Weapon of the Dacian arsenal was the falx, similar to a large sickle. ‘Falx’ had two variants: a shorter one-handed falx called a sica and a longer two-handed version or ‘polearm’. The warrior could not make use of a shield. The Dacians made surprise attacks and withdrawals using fortifications. During the Dacian Wars with the Romans, the Dacians almost won in a surprise attack launched over the frozen river. But Emperor Trajan’s main army saved the Romans from a defeat. During the time of the Roman conquest of Dacia , legionaries had reinforcing iron on helmets and leg and arm greaves and manica as protection against the falx. Celtic swords, wooden shields and sax knives were also an important part of the Dacian army. Dacians fought many battles; 1. Dacians fought against Celtic Boii in Dacian victory. 2. Dacians fought against Scordisci in Dacian victory. The Scordisci were a Gallic Iron Age tribe. 3. Dacians fought against Romans, First Battle of Tapae in Dacian victory 4. Dacians fought against Romans, First Battle of Adamclisi. Dacians and Rhoxolani Sarmatians slaughtered the Roman Legion XXI Rapax 5. Dacians fought against Romans, Second Battle of Tapae in indecisive Roman victory. A storm broke out and the Dacians saw it as a sign from the gods and decided to withdraw 6. Dacians fought against Romans, Battle of Adamclisi in Roman victory 7. Dacians fought against Romans , Battle of Gatae in Roman victory 8. Dacians fought against Romans, Battle of Sarmisegetusa in Roman victory
Posted on: Tue, 03 Dec 2013 12:20:02 +0000
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