Ranisstorum is the name of the
Ancient Roman
In modern historiography, ancient Rome refers to Roman civilisation from the founding of the city of Rome in the 8th century BC to the collapse of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century AD. It encompasses the Roman Kingdom (753–509 BC ...
fortification located east of
Sarmizegetusa, the former capital of the old kingdom of
Dacia. The exact location of this fortification is now lost, but it is possible that it was the present location called
Sub Cununi, near
Gradistea de Munte in
Romania.
In 106 AD,
Tiberius Claudius Maximus
Tiberius Claudius Maximus (died after AD 117) was a cavalryman in the Imperial Roman army who served in the Roman legions and Auxilia under the emperors Domitian and Trajan in the period AD 85–117. He is noted for presenting Trajan with the head ...
, of the Roman army, captured a fugitive Dacian king
Decebalus, just moments after the king committed suicide in order not to be captured alive and suffer the same humiliation as
Vercingetorix. Maximus cut Decebalus' head and right hand and brought them on a shield to
Emperor Trajan, who was camped at that time at this fortification. As a result of this action, Maximus was made
decurion and was given a second medal for bravery (the first was received from Emperor
Domitian in 87 AD).
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Archaeological sites in Romania
Roman legionary fortresses in Romania
Ancient history of Transylvania