DBA Resource Page

Dacians (60 BC? -106 AD)
(DBA 68)

Centered in what is now modern Romania and Transylvania, Dacia was a prosperous nation tracing its roots to the 7th century BC, whose mixed populace was comprised of northern Thracians, (Greek "Gatae" or Roman "Das", presumeably of Skythian descent), Germanic and Celtic tribes and settled nomadic horsemen such as the Rhoxolani Sarmatian. Unlike their barbarian neighbors to the north, the Dacians evolved a well-organized society centered around defensive strongholds (oppida), which quickly evolved into cities such as their capital Sarmizegethusa. A well established trade was conducted with Rome in wine, gold and silver work, pottery, and iron tools and weapons of high quality. Although known as farmers and traders, they acquired a reputation as fierce warriors under the leadership of the Dacian King Burebista and later under King Decebalus during his nearly 20 years of almost continuous conflict with Imperial Rome.

For historical reasons, it seems likely that the DBA Dacian list should start in 60 BC, rather than 60 AD. In 60 BC, King Burebista of Dacia began a series of expansionistic moves to relieve pressure from nomadic incursions, which eventually threatened Roman Danubian and Black Sea territories. Julius Caesar began to lay plans for a campaign in Dacia and Partha, which came to naught when both Caesear and Burebista were assassinated in 44 BC. Later, during the reign of Nero (54-68 AD), Dacian raids into Roman Moesia became so serious that the Romans engaged the Roxolani to help defend their frontier, thus placing Dacia's sometime Sarmatian allies on their enemies list.

In 85 AD, King Decebalus assumed the Dacian throne, adopting a hostile Roman policy that posed a serious challenge to the Emperor Domitian (81-96 AD). A Dacian army raided across the Danube into the Roman province of Moesia, killing the Roman governor and looting the countryside. This prompted an retaliatory expedition under command of praetorian prefect Cornelius Fuscus that was wiped out in eastern Dacia (including the loss of Legio V Alaudae) . A second Roman expedition was severely defeated in 87 AD.

Finally, a Roman army under Tettius Julianus defeated the Dacians at Tapae in 88 or 89 A.D. King Decabalus of Dacia was forced to pay tribute and allow Roman armies passage through Dacian territory. Domitian, however, was distracted by Saturninus' Revolt on the Rhine Frontier and uprisings by the Sarmatian Iazyges, Marcomanni and Quaid tribes on Rome's Pannonian frontier. He sought the favor of Decabalus to avoid a Dacian-Sarmatian alliance, offering skilled artisans and hostages to ensure Dacian neutrality while he contended with his other headaches. Domestic unrest proved too much for Domitian, who was assassinated in 96 AD.

Following the brief rule of Nerva to 98 AD, the Emperor Trajan came to power intent on securing Rome's borders on the Rhine and pacifying Dacia and Parthia. In the winter of 100-101 A.D., he massed a large army of conquest including ten full legions plus auxiliaries at Viminacium, on the banks of the Danube. They advanced into Dacia without opposition until reaching the oppida at Tapae, where Decebalus attacked, inflicting heavy casulties in an inconclusive battle. Thereafter, the Dacians retired, adopting a scorched earth policy, burning their crops and killing livestock as they retired into the mountains. The Romans went into winter camp, while the regrouped Dacian army mounted an attack southward along the River Alutus (Olt) into lower Moesia, until being repulsed near Nicopolis and retiring for the winter.

In the spring of 102 AD, Trajan sent part of his army into lower Moesia to advance by way of Oescus (near Nicopolis). The balance of his army moved forward through the Red Tower Pass (the "Iron Gates") toward Sarmizethusa. Several Dacian emissaries were turned away by Trajan, who finally offered terms which Decabalus refused. The Dacian king gave battle at Tibiscum, near his capital, but was defeated, thus ending Trajan's first Dacian War. The Dacians were forced to disarm and to accept a Roman garrison in their capital.

By 105 AD, the Dacians had rearmed. Decalabus seized the Roman garrison (whose commander took poison to avoid becoming a hostage), and launched a heavy raid into Moesia that was stopped by the approach of winter and the arrival of a Roman relief force. In 106 AD, Trajan crossed the Danube with a large army that marched in two divisions in a pincer movement toward Sarmizethusa. After a series of grim hit and run battles, the Dacians withdrew into their capital and allowed themselves to be beseiged. Finding themselves in desperate straits, the Dacian nobility lost hope of defense, either committing suicide or attempting to break out and escape toward the mountains. King Decabalus was able to elude the Romans at first, but was hotly pursued and slashed his own throat when capture was eminent. More than 10,000 Dacians were rounded up and set back to Rome to die as gladiators in the Roman arena and Trajan held a triumph that lasted 123 days.

Rome proceeded to mop up pockets of opposition throughout Dacia, incorporating it as a Roman province in 106 AD, and bringing an end to this DBA army list. Trajan's conquest was short lived, however, for Hadrian strenthened the Roman frontier south of Dacia along the line of the Ister (Danube) and Aurelian abandoned Dacia entirely in 270-271 AD under pressure from the Goths.

Army Composition:

Not reflected in the DBA list are Rhoxolani Sarmatians, who provided cavalry to the Dacians, and artillery, representing captured Roman ballistae and catapults, which were most frequently employed in defense of the Dacian oppida.

Bernd Lehnhoff's DBM to DBA conversion for Dacians includes a Sarmatian Knight option: Dacian (60 BC - 106 AD): 1x 2LH, 6x 3Wb, 1x 3Bd, 3x 2Ps, 1 1x 2Ps or 1x 3Kn (Sarmatian).

Enemies

The enemies of Dacia include their neighbors and occasional allies, the Sarmatians (Siracae, Iazyges or Later Rhoxolani) (#55c) and the Early Imperial Romans (#64), including one Marcus Ulpius Traianus (Trajan) in particular.

Tactics

Historically a rough terrain army that used the hilly, wooded countryside of Dacia to good advantage, the DBA Dacian army has plenty of bad going troops with four Psiloi, but must also find good ground for its seven Warband and Blade elements. In fact, the Early Imperial Romans will tend to outperform Dacians in bad going with their heavier Auxilia.

The primary tactic for Dacians against Imperial Romans is to get the Warband and Falxmen into close contact with the Roman Blades and Auxilia in good going. The Psiloi and Light Horse serve primarily to protect the flanks, screen the Roman cavalry, and/or provide overlaps.

Against the Knight-heavy Sarmatians, the best strategy is to retire within the walls of the oppidas. Barring that recourse, take to the hills and the bad going, and let your single elements of Blades and Light Horse do as much fighting as possible (presuming you do not use the Knight quick-kill vs. Blades). Otherwise, the Sarmatian Knights enjoy quick-kill capability against both the Dacian warband and psiloi.

Camp

A section of stone city wall (oppida) nestled on a hill seems appropriate. Given their reputation as raiders, a cart stuffed with loot and/or procession of bearers seems appropriate.

Painting Tips

The typical soldier carried an oval shield, short sword and javelins. Body armour was rare; soldiers wore a basic tunic split at the neck and sides, with baggy paints gathered and tied at the ankles. Cloaks are optional. Stripes and checks are appropriate, as well as natural, undyed wools abd cloth. More well-to-do Dacians might have decorative patterns on the hems of their tunics and cloaks and fringed cloaks.

Rulers of Dacian society showed their rank by wearing caps and better quality clothing. Leaders might have Sarmatian-style armor and helmets. Osprey shows a Dacian chieftain wearing a bronze Phyrgian helmet, iron leaf-scale armor, black wood tunic and trousers embroidered in red and white at the hem and lower legs, and a "tartan" wool cloak.

Based on the Dacians depicted on the Roman memorial at Adamclisi, shields, scabbards, and quivers could be quite elaborately decorated.

Bastarnians were reputed to fight bare-chested, with baggy pants, a skull cap, and their falx.

Miniature Sources

Foundry offers an extensive Dacian range in 25mm, including 5 chieftains, 2 standard bearers, and 17 warriors in assorted poses. Old Glory and Sabre also offer. 25mm Dacians.

Newline Design offers a range of Germans and Dacians in 20mm, including the must-have falxmen in baggy pants.

Dacians are available in 15mm scale from Donnington, Essex, Lancashire, and Rafm.

Essex' line of 15mm Dacians in fairly new, and includes: (DC1) Light Cavalry, (DC2) Asstd. javelinmen, (DC3) Asstd. spearmen, (DC4) Asstd. Falxmen, (DC5) Asstd. archers, (DC6) Command pack: 2 Std. bearers & 4 Officers, and (DC7) Bastarnae Falxmen.

Resources

Trajan's campaign against the Dacians is recorded in detail in a carved column. One of the principal resources regarding the weapons and heraldry of the Early Imperial Roman army, it also depicts Dacians in numerous scenes of battle with the Romans. Useful carvings also appear on the "Tropaeum Trajani" a victory memorial build at Adamclisi in Dobrogea.

Christopher Webber has an excellent page on the Dacians, including pictures, historical notes, and links (many of which are currently broken).

One of Osprey's early offerings is Rome's Enemies: Germanics and Dacians (Men-At-Arms 129), by Peter Wilcox (Stackpole, Dec. 1984), which includes color plates of typical Dacian warriors.

Thomas Hillman has published a Dacian Army List for Warhammer Ancient Battles.

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Last Updated: Oct. 26, 1999

Questions, comments, suggestions welcome. Send them to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.