History of Wars Summary 18 - Roman-Dacian Wars 1: The Dacian Kingdom and Rome's Clash

In the early 2nd century AD, the Roman Empire had the Danube River as its northern border, but a powerful Dacian Kingdom was situated in the area of modern-day Romania. Under King Decebalus, Dacia united various tribes and bolstered its military strength, leveraging the Carpathian Mountains' terrain and its rich gold and silver resources. The clash between Rome and Dacia had already intensified during Emperor Domitian's reign. In 85 AD, when Dacian forces invaded Roman Moesia, Rome counterattacked but suffered heavy losses early on, with their commander Cornelius Fuscus even falling in battle. Rome subsequently negotiated a temporary peace with Dacia. However, the situation changed when Trajan became emperor. Trajan aimed to eliminate the military threat from Dacia, stabilize the border, and secure Dacia's mineral resources. Ultimately, tensions between the two nations escalated back into war, and Trajan prepared for a large-scale expedition. This campaign would significantly alter Rome's northern policy and lead to a more aggressive approach towards Dacia.