One of the best things about wargaming as a hobby, is that it naturally leads to learning about new periods and peoples. The Dacians are one of those easily missed gems of history, a footnote to Roman power, but they were a people who could have been much, much more, save for an accident of time, and geography.

On March 25, 101 A.D. Emperor Trajan launched a massive assault on the tiny Kingdom of Dacia, recently united behind their warrior-king Decebalus. Decebalus faced 12 Legions, 2 of which were raised specifically for this campaign, large numbers of supporting Auxilia, over 16 cavalry alae, plus various guard, and barbarian allies. The numbers of the Roman force is estimated to have been between 100,000 and 150,000 men. In short, the full resources of the Roman Empire were diverted to this one land in modern-day Yugoslavia, in the southern end of the Carpathian Mountains. Decabalus was certainly concerned by the unprecedented use of Roman power, however he had beaten the Romans before.

In 85, 87, and 88 AD. Rome, under the rule of Domitian, had sent legions to punish the Dacians in retaliation for constant raiding, and to check their growing power in the region. He was not the first to wish to do so, as the Dacians had negotiated with Pompeii to fight against Julius Caesar. Caesar defeated Pompeii before any Dacians could arrive to help in the civil wars, however Caesar was assassinated before being able to conduct a planned campaign to Dacia.

Domitian’s Legions were not up to the task of bringing down wily Decebalus, and the campaign of 85 was inconclusive. In 87 A.D. he utterly destroyed two legions, captured one of their Eagles and also their artillery train at the first battle of Tapae. The Dacians lost another battle at Tapae in 88 A.D., and were refused peace initially but when German’s defeated Roman forces in Pannonia the situation changed radically. The result of the final negotiations was that Rome was allowed to declare itself victorious, but was forced to pay the Dacians a yearly tribute, as well skilled workers. Hardly a typical Roman victory!

Where Domitian sent several Legions, Trajan sent the entire Imperial force. The reasons for war were many. Dacia was accepting, perhaps actively recruiting Roman deserters to train their army, including skilled Roman Engineers to construct a fortrification line in the Carpathians. Dacian raiders were a routine, destructive, and deadly threat to the province of Moesia. Decebalus was suspected of building a powerful anti-Roman coalition with Germanic tribes, Sarmatians, and other local tribes such as the Bastarnae and Carpi. More importantly for war was Roman pride and honor, which had been severely stained by the Dacians for decades. Also, there was the gold. The gold mines in Dacia were a resource of vast wealth. This wealth was building a nation-state out of the Dacians.

Despite overwhelming force, Decebalus was able to fight for two years, using every means of stratagem and force, and was able to gain a negotiated peace with Trajan. The terms were harsh: dismantling of fortifications, return of Roman deserters, and loss of independence of foreign policy. No one expected the peace to last, and plans for the next, final campaign began almost immediately.

It came in 104, and also lasted two years before the Dacians were finally defeated by another massive use of Roman force. Decebalus committed suicide rather than be paraded back to Rome.

The most interesting fact that I learned of the Dacian people while researching my army, was that the Dacians were a proto-civilization, which strong evidence of trade, the largest metalworking facilities outside of the Greco-Roman world, a well developed foreign policy, skilled crafters, and very great internal cohesion. In short, the Dacians were barbarians who were well on their way to becoming a civilized nation.

In warfare, the Dacians still fought in loose order, using hit and run tactics similar to the Germans, and other “warband” armies. They were capable of mustering large numbers of aggressive and determined fighters, enough to defeat several legions in open field combat, despite the lack of armour, and close order drill. Dacians were noted in antiquity for their ferociousness and warlike nature. Archers were used by the Dacians, apparently in numbers, but the weapon they are most remembered for is the Falx. This weapon is the Rhomphia of the more southern Thracians, and is essentially a scythe blade on the end of a handle, similar to a Japanese naginata. It was a powerful weapon capable of cleaving limbs, and penetrating Roman helmets and body armour. Roman troops are reported as dreading facing it, and Trajan made a point to reinforce the Helmets of his troopers for his campaigns, as well as issuing arm and leg armour, not normally part of the Roman kit.

Dacian cavalry was not especially numerous, and it was the skirmish variety. However they were allies with the Rhoxolani tribe of Sarmatians, who are recorded as fighting with the Dacians in at least two of the campaigns. This provides a most capable cavalry shock arm to the Dacians.

Dacians have a lot of character to them as an army, and as a people, and it is surprising that so little is written about them.

Paul MacKendrick, The Dacian Stones Speak, The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, 1975 ISBN, 0-8078-1226-9)
www.Thefoundry.com (has an excellent write up on the Dacians, including a guesstimate of the Dacian’s army breakdown)
http://www.geocities.com/cogaionon/index.htm (solid, if scanty information)

The Barbarian Horde Part I: Choosing and Designing and Army
The Barbarian Horde Part II: Who are the Dacians?
The Barbarian Horde Part III: Wargaming the Horde