The Second Battle of Tapae (101) was the decisive battle of the first
Dacian War, in which
Roman Emperor Trajan defeated the
Dacian King
Decebalus's army. Other setbacks in the campaign delayed its completion until 102. The battle is most likely the battle-scene depicted on Plate 22 of Trajan's column.
Background
As soon as Trajan became
Roman emperor, he planned a campaign against
Dacia. This campaign resulted in the first
Dacian war fought between 101 and 102.
The reason used for this campaign was Decebalus' lack of respect for the
Romans
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
* Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
* Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a let ...
, and the fact that he failed to respect the agreements of the peace reached following the
First Battle of Tapae from 87/88.
Beside the nine
Roman legions that were already stationed on the Danube frontier, Trajan brought two more,
Legio X Gemina and
Legio XI Claudia, and created two new legions,
Legio II Traiana Fortis and
Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix Legio XXX Ulpia Victrix ("Trajan's Victorious Thirtieth Legion") was a legion of the Imperial Roman army. Their emblems were the gods Neptune and Jupiter and the Capricorn. ''Ulpia'' is Trajan's own ''gens'' ('' Ulpia''), while the cognomen "''Vic ...
.
The battle
The
Roman army crossed the Danube at
Viminacium
Viminacium () or ''Viminatium'', was a major city (provincial capital) and military camp of the Roman province of Moesia (today's Serbia), and the capital of ''Moesia Superior'' (hence once a metropolitan archbishopric, now a Latin titular see ...
, slowly making its way into Dacia. Just like in 87/88, the battle took place at
Tapae
Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding Sarmizegetusa Regia, Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the Iron Gates of Transylvania, a natural passage breaking between Țarcului Mountains, Țarcului and Poiana Rus ...
. The Dacians resisted the Roman offensive, but as a storm broke out, the Dacians believing it is a sign from the gods, decided to withdraw.
Aftermath
Because the winter was near, Trajan decided to wait until spring to continue his offensive on
Sarmizegetusa. Decebalus took advantage of the new situation, and in the winter of 101 to 102, he attacked the
Roman province of
Moesia, a major clash taking place at the
Battle of Adamclisi
The Battle of Adamclisi was a major battle in the Dacian Wars, fought in the winter of 101 to 102 between the Roman Empire and the Dacians near Adamclisi, in modern Romania.
Background
After the victory of Second Battle of Tapae, Emperor Traja ...
.
See also
*
List of Roman battles
The following is a List of Roman wars and battles fought by the ancient Roman Kingdom, Roman Republic and Roman Empire against external enemies, organized by date. For civil wars, revolts and rebellions, see List of Roman civil wars and revolts.
...
*
Trajan's Dacian Wars
The Dacian Wars (101–102, 105–106) were two military campaigns fought between the Roman Empire and Dacia during Emperor Trajan's rule. The conflicts were triggered by the constant Dacian threat on the Danubian province of Moesia and also by ...
*
Dacian warfare
The history of Dacian warfare spans from c. 10th century BC up to the 2nd century AD in the region defined by Ancient Greek and Latin historians as Dacia, populated by a collection of Thracian, Ionian, and Dorian tribes. It concerns the armed ...
References
{{Dacia topics
Tapae 101
101
Tapae
Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding Sarmizegetusa Regia, Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the Iron Gates of Transylvania, a natural passage breaking between Țarcului Mountains, Țarcului and Poiana Rus ...
Tapae
Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding Sarmizegetusa Regia, Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the Iron Gates of Transylvania, a natural passage breaking between Țarcului Mountains, Țarcului and Poiana Rus ...
Ancient history of Transylvania