Trajan's campaign on the Dacians Flashcards
When did it happen?
101 CE- First Dacian War
105-6 CE- Second Dacian War
Where did it happen?
Dacia (modern day Romania)
Side 1:
Rome, led by Trajan
Side 2:
Dacia, led by Decebalus
Who was Trajan, and how did he became well-known?
- Born in Hispania
- His father was a politician, and had held the consulship
- Trajan made his name as a military commander and was very popular with the legions
Who was Domitian, and who was he unpopular with?
- Domitian was an Emperor
-He was popular with the army, but not with the Roman nobles, who assassinated him, and appointed Nerva as the new emperor
Who was Nerva unpopular with?
- Popular with the Roman nobles but not the army
What did Nerva do?
- He was elderly and had no sons so he adopted Trajan and appointed him as his co-emperor
What is Trajan remembered as?
- One of Rome’s best Emperors
- The army respected him, he led successful campaigns against Dacia and Parthia and built new public buildings and a harbour in Rome
- He also gave support to the poor
What did the Dacians do in 69CE?
- Attacked the Roman province Moesia in 69 CE
- They then attacked again in 85-6 CE, killing the Roman governor Oppius Sabinus
What was the Roman governor killed by the Dacians?
Oppius Sabinus
When did Emperor Domitian attempt to conquer Dacia, and what happened?
87-88 CE
- He suffered a humiliating defeat and was forced to retreat and pay money to Dacia to secure peace
- Rome invaded the next year more successfully, and made Dacia into a client kingdom
What was Decebalus given and what did people believe he was doing with it?
- Annual payments from Rome to strengthen his defences, hoping that a strong Dacia would lead to a strong Roman border
- Some people believed that Decebalus was using this money to build his own strength and make alliances with Northern people so he could launch an attack on Rome
Who did people think Decebalus was recruiting to his cause?
- Northern people
- Runaway Roman slaves
- Roman soldiers
What did Trajan say was the cause of him declaring war?
- Concerns about the security of the border
What are the other reasons possible for Trajan declaring war on the Dacians?
- He wanted a campaign to raise the morale of his legions
- He wanted to make his mark as an emperor
- Dacia contained many gold mines
What happened in the summer of 101 CE?
- Trajan’s forces crossed the river Danube into Dacian territory
- A major battle was fought at Tapae- there were serious casualties on both sides but the Romans won
Where did the Romans move closer to in 102 CE?
- The capital city of Sarmizegethusa
- Decebalus surrendered
What happened after Decebalus surrendered?
- The Dacians were forced to dismantle their war machinery and demolish their forts
- Trajan withdrew and celebrated a triumph in Rome, and left many soldiers behind in Dacian territory
What happened after Decebalus broke the terms of his surrender?
- Trajan’s forces built a bridge across the river Danube making it easier for his army to cross
- Dacians were defeated and Decebalus committed suicide
- Trajan celebrated a triumph and made Dacia into a province of the Roman Empire
What were the consequences of the campaigns?
- Dacia became a Roman Province- Dacia Traiana, which was a massive increase to the size of the Roman empire
- Increased Trajan’s prestige and solidified his position as a good emperor- he ruled without major opposition until his death
- He took 500,000 prisoners, bringing 10,000 to fight in gladiatorial games in Rome that were hold over 123 days in celebration
- Trajan used gold from the campaign to improve the city of Rome
How did Trajan improve the city of Rome using Dacian gold?
- Building public works like baths
- Building a new road
- Extended corn dole for Rome’s poor
- Established a support system for Italy’s poor and orphaned children