Posted by Grouchio. Made by Casey.
The Dacian Wars: A Conclusion
The campaign that Caesar had started to put an end to the constant raiding the Dacians put upon Rome and her allies was finally coming to an end. Compared to the intense action that marked the beginning of the campaign the only events of note for the latter half was the capture of the Dacian King Burebesta. While fleeing from pursuing Roman cavalry units he ran directly into the advance units from the 10th Legion coming east.
The capture of the leadership of Dacia was a gift to both Caesar and the Dacians whom regarded his defeat as a great shame to the nation. The problem was that every tribe with the power to do so thought they should be the new leaders of Dacia. Civil war followed as the Dacians looked for a new leader or simply sought to take advantage of the situation for themselves.
The Romans being the opportunists that they were chose to secure the remainder of the territory south of the Danube, smashing the tribes that resisted and selling others into slavery. Pollio would later write that the markets were so swelled with slaves that one could only buy a single pair of sandals with one slave. Regions were left barren or otherwise unpopulated by the advancing army, but the result was absolute conquest by the Romans.
The civil war would rage on into the following year but gradually pro- Roman factions began to gain the advantage, thanks to some generous Roman support in the form of weapons and money. To seal the deal Caesar marched troops across the Danube to secure the far bank in preparation for a potential punitive raid further into Dacia. Thankfully for Caesar the situation would sort itself out but not until after the winter had cooled some heads, literally and figuratively.
The winter months would prove deadly to the remaining Dacians that would not surrender to Rome. While awaiting for spring to arrive several chieftains were dragged from their homes at night, gagged and tied to trees in the middle of the forest to freeze to death. Adding to the cruelty some were painted with blood and given necklaces of meat so as to attract the hungry wolves. The news of the murders would silence those who had any second thought about betraying Rome and bring those that were in open war to the negotiating table.
As spring bloomed a gathering was called by the various chieftains and the Romans; Pollio has the meeting occur on a hill overlooking the Danube on New Year’s day but it is unlikely due to the weather and logistics of such a gathering in the dead of winter. More likely it occurred well into spring. Caesar would lay out terms that the barbarians would have little choice but to accept, but given the circumstances the terms were rather lenient for a people the Romans considered well below them.
The treaty allowed the Dacian chieftains to remain in power, but they had to surrender all lands outside of the mountains, provide soldiers when Rome called, and refrain from making war without Caesar’s say so, and the icing on top of the cake, tribute to be paid for 10 years in gold and silver.
The Dacians would accept this treaty, but not happily, but who would be happy to see their nation effectively fall into servitude albeit indirectly. Compared to the way Caesar dealt with the various Gallic tribes this was certainly seen as a new change of pace, rather than exterminating the barbarians, Caesar befriended them. Instead of having to occupy tracts of useless territory with Roman soldiers, he would have access to all the resources he wanted without the undo cost to the state. It was a win win as far as Caesar was concerned, and would be regarded by historians as one of his most effective political solutions of the late Republic.
The outcome for the Romans was much better than how they had started the war. The new territory included everything up to the Danube River and the Greek cities on the Black Sea swearing themselves loyal to the Roman Republic. Included among these client states were the Celegeri, now plump after the acquisition of the Tricornenses land that Caesar had promised to them. Beyond the Danube the lands would not have looked to different to those before Burebista had come to power; over a dozen client states now occupied Dacia.
These new lands were under the control of the Romans but it was not enough to simply have them declare themselves allies and friends, they had to know it and be reminded of it from day one until the day they died. Rome would control their fates with both the mastery of a puppeteer and that of the puppet maker. These kings, while friendly to Rome, had no love for one another and the Romans would see to it that this situation would yield a large benefit to themselves. From Dacia vast resources could be gained in the form of slaves, gold, silver and tin; all things that make a kingdom great and wealthy.
As per Roman fashion roads were being built crossing here and there all across the new Roman territory by soldiers and slaves alike. This was how Rome showed its dominance and power over subjugated people, through engineering and wanton slaughter. Looking like ants carving up a corpse the workers plowed their way through mountains and over rivers, connecting towns and cities in a way that they had never seen before. In time the Romans would allow the people of these lands to taste the luxuries of Roman life so that they may plant the seeds of future annexation. This was Rome’s way of welcoming them to the modern age and to the proper way of life, the Roman way.
The Dacian Wars: A Conclusion
The campaign that Caesar had started to put an end to the constant raiding the Dacians put upon Rome and her allies was finally coming to an end. Compared to the intense action that marked the beginning of the campaign the only events of note for the latter half was the capture of the Dacian King Burebesta. While fleeing from pursuing Roman cavalry units he ran directly into the advance units from the 10th Legion coming east.
The capture of the leadership of Dacia was a gift to both Caesar and the Dacians whom regarded his defeat as a great shame to the nation. The problem was that every tribe with the power to do so thought they should be the new leaders of Dacia. Civil war followed as the Dacians looked for a new leader or simply sought to take advantage of the situation for themselves.
The Romans being the opportunists that they were chose to secure the remainder of the territory south of the Danube, smashing the tribes that resisted and selling others into slavery. Pollio would later write that the markets were so swelled with slaves that one could only buy a single pair of sandals with one slave. Regions were left barren or otherwise unpopulated by the advancing army, but the result was absolute conquest by the Romans.
The civil war would rage on into the following year but gradually pro- Roman factions began to gain the advantage, thanks to some generous Roman support in the form of weapons and money. To seal the deal Caesar marched troops across the Danube to secure the far bank in preparation for a potential punitive raid further into Dacia. Thankfully for Caesar the situation would sort itself out but not until after the winter had cooled some heads, literally and figuratively.
The winter months would prove deadly to the remaining Dacians that would not surrender to Rome. While awaiting for spring to arrive several chieftains were dragged from their homes at night, gagged and tied to trees in the middle of the forest to freeze to death. Adding to the cruelty some were painted with blood and given necklaces of meat so as to attract the hungry wolves. The news of the murders would silence those who had any second thought about betraying Rome and bring those that were in open war to the negotiating table.
As spring bloomed a gathering was called by the various chieftains and the Romans; Pollio has the meeting occur on a hill overlooking the Danube on New Year’s day but it is unlikely due to the weather and logistics of such a gathering in the dead of winter. More likely it occurred well into spring. Caesar would lay out terms that the barbarians would have little choice but to accept, but given the circumstances the terms were rather lenient for a people the Romans considered well below them.
The treaty allowed the Dacian chieftains to remain in power, but they had to surrender all lands outside of the mountains, provide soldiers when Rome called, and refrain from making war without Caesar’s say so, and the icing on top of the cake, tribute to be paid for 10 years in gold and silver.
The Dacians would accept this treaty, but not happily, but who would be happy to see their nation effectively fall into servitude albeit indirectly. Compared to the way Caesar dealt with the various Gallic tribes this was certainly seen as a new change of pace, rather than exterminating the barbarians, Caesar befriended them. Instead of having to occupy tracts of useless territory with Roman soldiers, he would have access to all the resources he wanted without the undo cost to the state. It was a win win as far as Caesar was concerned, and would be regarded by historians as one of his most effective political solutions of the late Republic.
The outcome for the Romans was much better than how they had started the war. The new territory included everything up to the Danube River and the Greek cities on the Black Sea swearing themselves loyal to the Roman Republic. Included among these client states were the Celegeri, now plump after the acquisition of the Tricornenses land that Caesar had promised to them. Beyond the Danube the lands would not have looked to different to those before Burebista had come to power; over a dozen client states now occupied Dacia.
These new lands were under the control of the Romans but it was not enough to simply have them declare themselves allies and friends, they had to know it and be reminded of it from day one until the day they died. Rome would control their fates with both the mastery of a puppeteer and that of the puppet maker. These kings, while friendly to Rome, had no love for one another and the Romans would see to it that this situation would yield a large benefit to themselves. From Dacia vast resources could be gained in the form of slaves, gold, silver and tin; all things that make a kingdom great and wealthy.
As per Roman fashion roads were being built crossing here and there all across the new Roman territory by soldiers and slaves alike. This was how Rome showed its dominance and power over subjugated people, through engineering and wanton slaughter. Looking like ants carving up a corpse the workers plowed their way through mountains and over rivers, connecting towns and cities in a way that they had never seen before. In time the Romans would allow the people of these lands to taste the luxuries of Roman life so that they may plant the seeds of future annexation. This was Rome’s way of welcoming them to the modern age and to the proper way of life, the Roman way.
