THE DACIAN STATE, FROM BUREBISTA TO DECEBALUS

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THE DACIAN STATE, FROM BUREBISTA TO DECEBALUS



1. The development of the Dacian society


- The 1st century BC witnesses a quick and ccomplex development of the Geto-Dacian society: while the old settlements are growing, new settlements are founded; fortresses rise on high places (Costesti, Capalna, Batca Doamnei); the metallurgy flourishes; the use of the plough with iron blade and of the potter's wheel increased productivity.
- The Dacian society is now clearly divided in noblemen (tarabostes, pileati) and common people (comati), rich and poor.

2. The unification of the Geto-Dacians


- The factors that led to the formation of tthe unified Dacian state were: the ethnic and linguistic unity of the Geto-Dacians; the dangers that were threatening Dacia (the Celts, from the west, and the Romans from the south); the rise of a remarkable political and military personality - Burebista.

- The area of the Orastie Mountains, inside the Carpathian arc, represented the nucleus of the Dacian state. Cogaionon, the sacred mountain of the Dacians was situated in these mountains, which were also very rich in iron.

- Burebista becomes king around the year 822 BC. In short time, with the help of the high priest Deceneu, he manages to unify all the Geto-Dacian tribes, creating a powerful state. The unification was achieved in two ways: peacefully or through battles.


3. The campaigns of Burebista


- In 60-59 BC Burebista leads a successful ccampaign against the Celts that were threatening Dacia from the north-west.
- After 55 BC Burebista conquers the Greek ccities on the Black Sea coast, from Olbia to Apollonia. The possession of the Greek cities had a great economical importance for the Dacian state.

- The campaigns along the coast of the Blackk Sea determined the retreat of the Scythians to the river Don, where they initially had come from.

- After 48 BC Burebista defeated the Celts ffrom the north-west and from the south-west of Dacia (these battles are mentioned by Strabo).


4. The state of Burebista


- In the middle of the 1st century BC, the kingdom of Burebista was bordered by: the river Morava and the middle course of the Danube (west), the Balkan Mountains (south), the Black Sea, the river Bug (east), the Northern Carpathians (north).
- A Greek inscription calls Burebista "the ffirst and the greatest of the kings of Thracia".
- According to Strabo, Burebista could raisee an army of 200,000 people.


5. The area of the Orastie Mountains


- The area of the Orastie Mountains, also caalled the Sureanu Mountains, was the economical, the political and the spiritual center of Dacia. Cogaionon (or Kogaion, Kogaionon), "The Sacred Mountain", is identified by historians and archeologist with the Hill of Gradistea, 1200 m high.
- The system of fortifications in the area oof the Orastie Mountains was built during the reign of Burebista. It included fortresses: Sarmizegetusa, Costesti, Blidaru, Piatra Rosie, Capalna; and settlements: Costesti, Fata Cetii, Fetele Albe. The walls of the fortresses were built in a specific technique called murus dacicus.


6. Foreign affairs


- In 48 BC Burebista interferes in the civill war at Rome between Caesar and Pompeius.He offers his military aid to Pompeius in exchange of the acceptance of his state. But this help doesn't get in time to Pompeius, who is defeated by Caesar.
- Caesar intends to punish the Dacians and pprepares a campaign against Burebista. The expedition never took place because Caesar is assassinated on the 15th of March 44 BC.
- After a short time Burebista has the same fate, as he is also assassinated. We assume it was a plot of the noblemen.


7. Dacia after the death of Burebista


- After the death of Burebista, his big kinggdom splits in four, then five, smaller kingdoms. The Greek cities on the coast of the Black Sea and the Celtic tribes no longer accept the authority of the Dacian state.

- Deceneu is the king of the state situated in the area of the Orastie Mountains. Thus, Deceneu has the attributes of the king, the high priest and the supreme judge. "The Sacred Mountain" (Kogaionon) becomes the residence of the king - Sarmizegetusa Basileion. Deceneu builds new sanctuaries at Sarmizegetusa.
- So, we can speak of a continuity of the thhe Dacian state in the area of the Orastie Mountains. After Deceneu, the following kings reigned at Sarmizegetusa: Comosicus, Scorilo, who he reigned for 40 years, Duras, who led an expedition south of the Danube.
- Other Dacian kings, that we know of, were:: Dicomes, who was a relative of Burebista and ruled a kingdom between the Carpathians and Dnestr; Dapyx, Zyraxes - in Dobruja; Roles, Cotiso - in Muntenia.


8. Dacia in the 1st century AD


- In the 1st century AD Dacia begins a proceess of cultural integration in the Roman world. The rulers of Rome consider the Geto-Dacians a civilized people, and Dacia, a wealthy country.


9. The Roman expansion. Campaigns of the Dacians


- In 15 AD the Romans create the province off Moesia (south of the Danube). In 46 AD Dobruja is included in Moesia. West of Dacia, in 9-10 AD is created the province of Pannonia.
- The Dacian kings led a number of campaignss, against the Romans. The most important was that of Duras in the winter of 85/86 AD.
- Domitianus, the emperor of the Romans comees with an army at the Danube and repels the Dacian king. He plans a campaign against the Dacians.


10. The Roman campaign of 87. The victory of the Dacians at Tapae


- Cornelius Fuscus, a Roman general, leadingg an army consisting of 5 or 6 legions, crosses the Danube in 87, on a bridge of boats. He advances through the Banat region and he passes through the Iron Gates of Transylvania.

- The Roman army is attacked by the Dacians at Tapae. The Dacians win the battle. Fuscus died in the fight and one Roman legion is completely destroyed (its banners and its war machines were captured by the Dacians).


11. Diurpaneus - Decebalus


- The leader of the Dacians at Tapae was Diuurpaneus, a nobleman (taraboste) from the south-west of Dacia.
- After this great victory, the Geto-Dacianss considered Diurpaneus a demigod. Duras gives the throne of Dacia to Diurpaneus (87) and the new king receives the name of Decebalus, which means "the powerful one", "the brave one". All the Dacians accept him as their king.


12. The Roman campaign of 88. The peace


- In 88 the Roman general Tettius Iulianus ccrosses Danube, and follows the same route as Fuscus. There is again a battle at Tapae, but the Romans won the battle. Even the high priest of the Dacians, Vezina, hardly escapes from the battle. Tettius Iulianus finds it impossible to advance any further. Decebalus asks for peace, but Domitianus refuses.
- Domitianus is defeated in Pannonia by somee Germanic populations and renounces at the war with the Dacians. He sends a messenger to Decebalus and concludes the peace (89). Diegis, the brother of Decebalus, participated at the negotiations. Domitianus agrees to give Decebalus money and skilled workers. The peace of 89 was a compromise.


13. Marcus Ulpius Trajan


- On the 18th of September 96 Domitianus is assassinated and Marcus Cocceius Nerva becomes emperor.
- Marcus Ulpius Trajan, a person with excepttional military skills, obtains victories in Pannonia, during several campaigns against the Germanic tribes. Nerva adopts Trajan as his son, and proclaims him his associate. (imperator et consors).
- When Nerva dies, in January 98, Trajan beccomes emperor.