Dacia

  • Dacia was a Roman Province between 106-271 CE, which was located in the modern countries of Roumania, Moldova, and parts of the Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary.

1. History

  • Pre-Roman history:
  • Dacia represents the area of modern Transylvania in Roumania.
    • The Ancient Greek sources refer to the Dacian Tribes as inhabiting this area.
    • Julius Caesar contemplated invading Dacia before he died in 44 BCE.
    • 82 BCE to 106 CE A Dacian Kingdom existed whose Capital city was Sarmizegetusa. This subsequently became the Roman Capital..
    • 87-106 CE Decebalus was King of Dacia.
    • 85-106 CE Dacian Wars
    • 85-88 CE Dacians, under Decebalus, attacked Moesia. They were repelled but Decebalus was not conquered. He was given Roman Client Kingdom status.
    • Because of the Iron and Copper Mines a large proportion on the male population owned swords.
    • Dacia could raise an army of 250,000 at any one time, and this presented a threat of invasion to Rome. Particularly as Dacia’s allies were often Rome’s perceived enemies.
  • Acquisition by Rome:
  • 101-106 CE Dacian Wars:
    • Trajan invaded Dacia and razed its capital to the ground and captured the famous Treasure of Decebalus. Decebalus committed suicide.
    • Trajan used the wealth of Dacia not only for Public Works in Rome, but also to pay his Legions and invade the Parthian Empire. The History of this War was written by Dio Cassius, and Trajan's Column in Rome still stands bearing reliefs describing the war.
  • Timeline of this Province:
    • 119 CE Dacia was divided into Dacia Superior (Upper) and Dacia Inferior (Lower) by Quintus Marcius Turbo.
    • 124 CE or 158 CE Dacia Superior was again divided into Dacia Apulensis and Dacia Porolissensis, and the province was renamed Tres Daciae (the Three Dacias)
    • 183 CE Either an Invasion or a Rebellion was quelled.
    • 198-217 CE Caracalla gave Roman Citizenship to all Dacians.
    • 249-251 CE Decius repelled an invasion into Dacia by the Carpi.
    • 268-269 CE Claudius II Gothicus repelled the Goths at the Battle of Naissus.
    • 271 CE Aurelian withdrew the Army from Dacia, which then ceased to be a Roman Province.
    • 271-285 CE Dacia Aureliana:
      • This was not Dacia. In 271 CE Aurelian created it out of Moesia Superior after he had pulled out of Dacia. Dacia Aureliana was then divided into Dacia Ripensis (military) and Dacia Mediterranea (civil).
  • After Diocletian’s Reforms of 297 CE:
    • 296 CE Diocletian built defensive works on both banks of the Danube.
    • 336-7 CE Constantine I briefly reconquered the Province of Dacia.
    • 337 CE However when he died in 337 CE, the Romans left Dacia permanently.
  • Famous Persons from this Province:
  • Chief archeological Finds:
  • Historic Battle Sites:
    • Battle of Tapae (88 CE) at a Pass called the Iron Gates of Transylvania.

2. Geography

  • Capital City:
    • Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa
      • It was the Financial, Religious and Legislative centre.
    • Alba Julia (Apulum)
      • It was the Military Governor’s HQ for all 3 provinces, and it became the greatest city along the whole Danube.
  • Chief Cities:
    • Ptolemy lists 43 towns and cities. There are eleven known Roman Cities, based on military camps, of which eight were titled Colonia.
    • Also the cities of Cluj (Napoca), Turda (Potaissa), Constanta (Tomis-which later became the capital of Moesia Inferior).
    • Dacia included Histria, Callatia, Tibiscum (Ruins near Jupa) which reverted to Moesia Inferior?
    • Dacia included Porolissum, Romula and Dierna.
  • Location Today:
    • Roumania, Moldova, and parts of the Ukraine, Serbia and Hungary.
  • Neighbouring Roman Provinces:
  • Climate and Temperature Today:
    • Temperate and Continental Climate:
      • Summer Temperatures 29-35°C. Winter Temperatures 3°C. Carpathians prevent Atlantic influences reaching the Southeast.
      • On the Northern side, Transylvania has mild winters and heavier rainfall.
      • Areas closest to the Black Sea have a milder Maritime Climate.
      • The vast Ukranian Plain to the North of the Caucasus experiences little rainfall and cold Winters. The Carpathians have Winter Temperatures of -15°C and Snow.
      • The Danube Delta has little rainfall.
  • Main Geographical features:
    • Area North of the Lower Danube and including the Black Sea Coast.
  • Main Rivers:
    • Lower Danube (south), Upper R. Dniester (East), R. Tisza (West), R.Siret (These Rivers formed the Borders)
  • Mountain Ranges:
    • Carpathian Mountains formed the border to the North.
  • Passes:
  • Islands: None

3. Political Organisation

  • Province Type:
  • Governor:
    • Proconsul
      • Q. Pompeius Falco (116 CE)
      • Gaius Arrius Antonius (c.220’s CE)
  • Tribes and Population:
    • Dacians are the Getae, a Northern Thracian (possibly Greek) Tribe.
  • Language:
    • Latin and Dacian, which was a form of Thracian (Indo European).

4. Military Organisation

  • Legions:
  • Apulum (Alba Iulia)
  • Troesmis (Iglita, Romania)
  • Castra Potaissa (Ruins, Turda, Romania):
  • Navy: None.
  • Defensive Works:
  • Limes Moesiae:
    • Upper Trajan’s Wall
      • Located in Moldova, also known as the Greuthungian Wal, it stretched 74 miles (120km) from R. Dniester to the R. Prut. Built c. 110 CE to protect the Coastal area from the Danube Delta as far as the City of Tyras.
      • It was a Turf Wall, 74 miles (120km) long, 10-13 ft (3-4m) wide, 32-49 ft (10-15m) thick, with a Trench in front 6-10 ft (2-3m) deep. The wall is currently 20 inches (0.5m) high.
  • Main Threats:

5. Economy

  • Chief Exports:
    • Gold to Rome.
    • Grain (to the Danube Legions).
  • Agriculture and Fishing:
  • Manufacturing:
    • Brooch workshop at Napoca.
    • Apulum weapon smithies for the Legion.
    • Glass manufacturing at Sarmizegetusa and Tibiscum.
    • Terra Sigillata: 26 Kilns of Micasasa.
    • Bronze casting foundries at Porolissum, Romula and Dierna.
  • Mines:
    • Dacian Gold Mines
      • Located in Transylvania, between Apulum and Napoca in the Bihor Mountains. Alburus Maior 131-167 CE. Closed in 215 CE. They produced 700 Million Denarii per annum for Rome.
    • Salt, Iron, Silver and Copper Mines.
    • Quarries for Limestone, Marble, Schist, Sandstone, Andesite.
  • Mints:
    • Between 247-257 CE Bronze coins minted either at Apulum, Sarmizegetusa or Moesia Superior.

6. Transport

  • Roads:
    • Lederata-Tibiscum
    • Dierna-Tibiscum
    • Tibiscum-Ulpia Traiana Sarmizrgetusa-Apulum-Potaissa-Naposa-Porolissum
    • Roman Road along the valley of the River Olt.
    • Drobeta-Bumbesti-The Valcan Pass-Sarmizegetusa
  • Waterways:
    • The R. Danube, R. Dniester, R. Tisza, R. Siret
  • Ports:
  • Ancient Trade Routes:
    • The Danube to the Black Sea.
  • Number of Days taken to travel from this Province to Rome:

7. Relationship with Rome

  • Dacia was wealthy in metals and a strategic forward Province militarily, but it proved to be too far from the Danube to be defended indefinitely.
  • The Province was part of the Danube Limes, the Defensive Frontier system along the river Danube. The Legion in Dacia acted as a forward stronghold defending the Danube.
  • The Dacian Gold Mines produced 700 million denarii per annum for Rome between 131-167 CE. They were closed in 215 CE. Other mines produced Salt, Iron, Silver and Copper.
  • After the Great Gothic Seaborne Raids (267-9 CE) where, according to Zosimus, 2-6,000 ships and 325,000 men invaded the Eastern Roman Empire, Aurelian removed the Legion in 271 CE, and pulled the Frontier back to the Danube.
  • Dacia was briefly re-occupied by Constantine I between 336-7 CE, after which it was permanently abandoned.

8. History of Christianity in this Province

9. Roman Authors describing this Province

 

Dacia (capital Ulpia Traiana Sarmizegetusa, Sarmizegetusa)

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