The Third Battle of Tapae (101) was the decisive battle of the first of Trajan's Dacian Wars, in which the Roman Emperor 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. It followed the earlier battles at the same place during Domitian's Dacian War.

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, and the fact that he failed to respect the agreements of the peace reached following the Domitian's Wars 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 Roman legion, legion of the Imperial Roman army. Their emblems were the gods Neptune (god), Neptune and Jupiter (god), Jupiter and the Capricorn (astrology), Capricorn. ''Ulpia'' ...

The battle

The

Roman army The Roman army (Latin: ) was the armed forces deployed by the Romans throughout the duration of Ancient Rome, from the Roman Kingdom (c. 500 BC) to the Roman Republic (500–31 BC) and the Roman Empire (31 BC–395 AD), and its medieval continu ...

had crossed the Danube at Viminacium, slowly making its way into Dacia. Just like in 87/88, the battle took place at

Tapae Tapae was a fortified settlement, guarding Sarmizegetusa, the main political centre of Dacia. Its location was on the Iron Gates of Transylvania, a natural passage breaking between Țarcului and Poiana Ruscă Mountains and connecting Banat to Ț ...

where Trajan engaged in a fierce battle with the bulk of his army. The clash, as illustrated on Trajan's Column, was favourable to the Romans but at the cost of great bloodshed.Cassius Dio, Storia romana, LVIII, 8, 2 A storm broke out and the Dacians believing it a sign from the gods, decided to withdraw. It was not decisive since Decebalus was able to establish himself within his forts in the area of

Orăștie Orăștie (; german: link=no, Broos, hu, Szászváros, la, Saxopolis) is a city in Hunedoara County, south-western Transylvania, central Romania. History 7th–9th century – On the site of an old swamp was a human settlement, now ...

, ready to block access to the capital Sarmizegetusa Regia.

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 Moesia (; Latin: ''Moesia''; el, Μοισία, Moisía) was an ancient region and later Roman province situated in the Balkans south of the Danube River, which included most of the territory of modern eastern Serbia, Kosovo, north-eastern Alban ...

, a major clash taking place at the

Battle of Adamclisi The Battle of Adamclisi was a major battle in the Trajan's Dacian Wars, 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 ...

References

{{Dacia topics Tapae 101 101

Ancient history of Transylvania

Background

The battle

Aftermath

See also

References