Dacia

Definition

Dacia was a region inhabited by the Dacians in the north of the Danube (modern Romania). The kingdom of Dacia was the creation of Burebistas (c. 80-44 BCE), who conquered and united several other Dacian principalities. Burebistas practically destroyed the Celtic tribes of the Scordiscii and subjected, or allied with, the Greek cities of the Western Black Sea coast, from Odessus (today's Varna) to Olbia (near today's Odessa). During the Roman Civil War, the Dacians would probably have come to support Pompey. Burebistas was eventually killed in the same year as Julius Caesar, who allegedly was preparing an expedition against the Dacians and the Parthians.

More about: Dacia

Timeline

  • 106 BCE
    The governor of the Roman province of Macedonia, M. Minucius Rufus, celebrates his victory over a raid of the Dacians allied with the Celtic tribe of the Scordiscii in the Balkans.
  • c. 70 BCE - 44 BCE
    The reign of Burebistas, styled in a Greek inscription as "the first and the greatest king". He attacked and destroyed the Celtic tribes on the central Danube, and the Greek cities on the western coast Black Sea became his allies and clients.
  • c. 60 BCE
    Boii in eastern Europe crushed by the Dacians.
  • 49 BCE - 48 BCE
    Burebistas sends Acornion of Dionysopolis as ambassador to negotiate an alliance with Pompey.
  • 44 BCE
    Burebistas is killed in the same year as his enemy Julius Caesar.
  • 85 CE - 86 CE
    Dacians invade Moesia and defeat the Romans.
  • 86 CE
    The Roman general Cornelius Fuscus invades Dacia. He is ambushed and his army is annihilated.
  • 87 CE - 106 CE
    Reign of the last Dacian king, Decebalus.
  • 88 CE
    Resolved to avenge Fuscus' defeat, Domitian sends another army to Dacia under Tettius Iulianus. This general is victorious on the mountainous pass of Tapae, in the south-west of modern Romania.
  • 101 CE - 106 CE
    Trajan conquers Dacia.
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