ROMANVM

The Roman Empire.

 

The southern border of the river Danube and the Black sea to the east and the Carpathian Mountains range to the west with it's vast beauty and rich resources made it a prize for the advancing Roman empire.  

Its capital was Sarmizegetusa Regia located high in the Orăștie Mountains. This Fortress city built in the 1st century BCE consisted of Six citadels and was the core of the strategic defense of Dacia. 

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The conflict with Rome:

Dacia was known to the Romans as early as Julius Caesar had plans to conquer Dacia before his assassination. True conflict started when Dacia sent envoys to Augustus offering its support against Mark Anthony. Augustus rejected the envoys so Dacia sided with Mark Anthony. 

116 years later in the winter of 85 CE King Duras attacked the Roman province of Moesia killing its Governor Oppius Sabinus. Emperor Domitian sent 6 legions across the Danube in 87 CE under the command of the praetorian prefect Cornelius Fuscus. 

The Roman army was ambushed and defeated at the First Battle of Tapae by Diurpaneus. Who was subsequently renamed Decebalus (Dacian for "the Brave") and was chosen to be the new king. Fuscus was killed and the legions lost their banners, adding to the humiliation.

In 88 CE, the Roman offensive continued, and the Roman army, this time under the command of Tettius Julianus, defeated the Dacians at their outlying fortress of Sarmizegetusa. After this battle Decebalus asked for peace but was ejected by Emperor Domitian, who later accepted the offer mainly to free legions to fight in the revolt on the Rhine by the Roman Governor of Germania, Lucius Antonius Saturninus. 

A unfavorable peace treaty to the Roman Empire in 89 AD made Decebalus a Client King of Rome with a large lump sum of money, annual financial stipends, Craftsmen and Hostages.

The craftsmen were used to upgrade the Dacians defenses. Some believe it is this peace treaty is what lead to Domitian's assassination in 96 CE.

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First Dacian War 101-102 CE:

Emperor Trajan invaded into the heart of Dacia spearheaded by two legionary columns burning towns and villages en route. Trajan defeated a Dacian army at the Second Battle of Tapae.

In 102 CE Decebalus chose to make peace after additional minor conflicts. The war had concluded with an important Roman victory. A bridge later known as Trajan's bridge was constructed across the Danube.
This bridge, probably the biggest at that time and for centuries to come, was designed by Apollodorus of Damascus and was meant to help the Roman army advance faster in Dacia in case of a future war.
 

According to the peace terms, Decebalus got technical and military reinforcement from the Romans in order to create a powerful allied force against the dangerous and hostile migrating peoples from the northern and eastern territories.The resources were instead used to rebuild Dacian fortresses and strengthen the army.

 

Soon thereafter Decebalus turned against the Romans once again. Decebalus incited a revolt amongst tribes causing them to pillage Roman colonies across the Danube. Trajan rallied his forces in CE105 for a second war.

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Second Dacian War 105-106 CE:

Like the first conflict, the second war involved several skirmishes that proved costly to the Roman military. Faced with large numbers of allied tribes, the legions struggled to attain a decisive victory, resulting in a second temporary peace.

Eventually, goaded by the behavior of Decebalus and his repeated violations of the treaty, Rome again brought in reinforcements, took the offensive and prevailed in 105 CE. 

The next year they gradually conquered the mountain fortress system that surrounded the Dacian capital, Sarmizegetusa. The final decisive battle took place near the walls of Sarmizegetusa, during the summer of 106 CE.

The Dacians repelled the first attack, but the Romans, helped by a treacherous local nobleman, found and destroyed the water pipes of the Dacian capital. Running out of water and food the city fell and was razed. Decebalus fled, but was followed by the Roman cavalry and committed suicide rather than submit.

Thanks to the treason of a confidant of the Dacian king, Bicilis, the Romans found Decebalus's treasure in the river of Sargesia a fortune estimated at 165,500 kg of gold and 331,000 kg of silver. 

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The conclusion of the Dacian Wars marked a triumph for Rome. Trajan announced 123 days of celebrations throughout the Empire. Dacia's rich gold mines is estimated contributed 700 million Denarii per annum to the Roman economy, providing finance for Rome's future campaigns and assisting with the rapid expansion of Roman towns throughout Europe.

One hundred thousand male slaves were sent back to Rome, which Sir Helios nearly escaped from. The conquered half (southern) of Dacia was annexed, becoming a province while the northern part remained free.  

 

Sir HELIOS of Dacia:

A child born into war between the illegitimate daughter of Decebalus and a unknown Roman Hostage. He was raised seeing the horrors of war, witnessing the death of his beloved grandfather and subsequent demise of his mother at the hands of roman jailers, he has sworn himself to peace. 

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Why no surname for the house of Dacia?

Sir Helios decided to not take a surname upon his arrival in Rome in honor of his homeland of Dacia while still embracing his Roman side. Essentially making the House of Dacia open to all Dacians within and without the Roman Empire in hopes to preserve the best of Dacia while rejecting the ranker and family rivalry that can exist. 

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What the House of Dacia stands for:

Sir Helios a humble supplier of Garum (a essential condiment in all roman food) is a peace loving roman patrician. His sincere hope is that his family does honor to all Roman gods and to the Emperor. The House of Dacia supports all Roman arts and sports. It avoids drama in it's many forms. 

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LONG LIVE ROMANUM!  LONG LIVE THE EMPEROR!