Dacia 45745 222322957 2008-06-28T18:45:17Z CristianChirita 205186 /* Name */ {{otheruses}} {{History of Romania}} '''Dacia''', in ancient geography was the land of the [[Dacians]]. It was named by the ancient [[Greeks|Hellenes]] ([[Greeks]]) "[[Getae]]". Dacia was a large district of [[South Eastern Europe]], bounded on the north by the [[Carpathian Mountains|Carpathians]], on the south by the [[Danube]], on the west by the ''Tisia'' or [[Tisza|Tisa]], on the east by the ''Tyras'' or [[Dniester|Nistru]], now in eastern [[Moldova]]. It thus corresponds in the main to modern [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]], as well as parts of [[Hungary]], [[Bulgaria]] and [[Ukraine]]. The capital of Dacia was [[Sarmizegetusa]]. The inhabitants of this district are generally considered as belonging to the [[Thracians|Thracian]] nations. ==Name== The Dacians were known as ''Geta'' (plural ''Getae'') in [[Greek language|Greek]] writings, and as ''Dacus'' (plural ''Daci'') and Getae in [[Roman empire|Roman]] documents; also as Dagae and Gaete&mdash;see the late Roman map ''[[Tabula Peutingeriana]]''. [[Strabo]] tells that the original name of the Dacians was "daoi", which could be explained with a possible [[Phrygian language|Phrygian]] cognate "daos", meaning "wolf". This assumption is enforced by the fact that the Dacian standard, the [[Dacian Draco]], had a wolf head. It can be confusing that the geographical name "Dacia" was much later also used during the [[Middle Ages]] by the [[Roman Catholic Church]] for its northernmost province, namely Denmark-Norway-Sweden ([[Scandinavia]]) and even for [[Jutland|Denmark alone]]. In some historical documents, members of royalty of that area have been called "of Dacia". ==Geography== [[Image:Dacia 82 BC.png|thumb|right|[[Dacian King]]dom, during the rule of [[Burebista]], 82 BC.]] Towards the west Dacia may originally have extended as far as the Danube, where it runs from north to south at [[Waitzen]] (Vacz). [[Julius Caesar]] in his ''[[De Bello Gallico]]'' (book 6) speaks of the [[Hercynian forest]] extending along the [[Danube]] to the territory of the Dacians. [[Ptolemy]] puts the eastern boundary of Dacia Trajana as far back as the Hierasus ([[Siret]] river, in modern [[Romania]]). The extent and location of the later geographical entity '''Dacia''' varied in its four distinct historical periods (see ''History'', below); * The Dacia of King [[Burebista]] (82&ndash;44 BC), stretching from the [[Southern Bug]] river in modern [[Ukraine]] to the [[Danube]] in modern [[Slovakia]], and from the [[Balkan]] mountains in modern [[Bulgaria]] to [[Zakarpattia Oblast]] (Transcarpathia) in modern Ukraine *The [[Roman province]] ''Dacia [[Trajan]]a'', established as a consequence of the Dacian Wars during 101&ndash;106 AD, comprising the regions known today as [[Banat]], [[Oltenia]] and [[Transylvania]]. *The later [[Roman province]]: ''[[Dacia Aureliana]]'', reorganised as Dacia Ripensis (as military province) and Dacia Mediterranea (as civil province)<ref>''Charles Matson Odahl: Constantine and the Christian Empire''</ref>, inside former [[Moesia]] Superior after the abandonment of former Dacia to the [[Goths]] and [[Carpians]] in 271. ==Culture== [[Image:dacian draco.jpg|thumb|right]] Based on archaeological findings, the origins of the Dacian culture can be considered to have begun developing from north of the Danube river (south and east) to the Carpathian mountains, in the modern-day historical Romanian province of [[Muntenia]] and are identified as an evolution of the [[Iron Age]] [[Basarabi culture]]. The Dacians had attained a considerable degree of civilization by the time they first became known to the Romans. ==Religion== {{Main|Dacian mythology}} [[Image:Sarmisegetusa Sanctuary Dacian reconstruction.jpg|thumb|right|Dacian Sanctuary at Sarmisegetuza Regia.]] According to [[Herodotus]] ''History'' (book 4) account of the story of [[Zalmoxis]] (or Zamolxis), the Getae (speaking the same language as the Dacians - [[Strabo]]) believed in the immortality of the soul, and regarded death as merely a change of country. Their chief priest held a prominent position as the representative of the supreme deity, [[Zalmoxis]]. The chief priest was also the king's chief adviser. The [[Goths|Goth]] [[Jordanes]] in his ''[[Getica]]'' (''[[The origin and deeds of the Goths]]''), gives account of Dicineus ([[Deceneus]]), the highest priest of Buruista ([[Burebista]]) and considered the Dacians a related nation of the [[Goths]]. Besides Zalmoxis, the Dacians believed in other deities such as [[Gebeleizis]] and Bendis. ==Society== [[Image:Comati dacians romanian goverment picture.jpg|right|thumbnail|150px|Comati]] Dacians were divided into two classes: the aristocracy (''tarabostes'') and the common people (''comati''). The aristocracy alone had the right to cover their heads and wore a felt hat (hence ''pileati'', their Latin name). The second class, who comprised the rank and file of the army, the [[peasant]]s and artisans, might have been called ''capillati'' (in Latin). Their appearance and clothing can be seen on [[Trajan's Column]]. Dacians had developed the [[Murus dacicus]], characteristic to their complexes of fortified cities, like their capital Sarmizegetusa in today [[Hunedoara]] ([[Romania]]). The degree of their urban development can be seen on [[Trajan's Column]] and in the account of how Sarmizegetusa was defeated by the Romans. The Romans identified and destroyed the water [[aqueducts]] or [[Pipeline transport|pipelines]] of the Dacian capital, only thus being able to end the long siege of Sarmizegetusa. Greek and Roman chroniclers record the defeat and capture of [[Lysimachus]] in the 3rd century BC by the Getae ([[Dacian]]s) ruled by [[Dromichaetes|Dromihete]], their military strategy, and the release of Lysimachus following a debate in the assembly of the Getae. The cities of the Dacians were known as ''-dava'', ''-deva'', ''-δαυα'' ("-dawa" or "-dava", [[Ancient Greek|Anc. Gk.]]), ''-δεβα'' ("-deva", [[Byzantine Greek|Byz. Gk.]]) or ''-δαβα'' ("-dava", [[Byzantine Greek|Byz. Gk.]]), etc. . A list of Dacian davas [http://members.tripod.com/~Groznijat/thrac/thrac_8.html 1] and, more actual, [http://soltdm.com/geo/arts/categs/categs.htm#dava at SOLTDM]: #In Dacia: ''Acidava'', ''[[Argedava]]'', ''Burridava'', ''Dokidava'', ''Carsidava'', ''Clepidava'', ''Cumidava'', ''Marcodava'', ''Netindava'', ''Patridava'', ''[[Craiova|Pelendava]]'', ''*Perburidava'', ''Petrodaua'', ''Piroboridaua'', ''Rhamidaua'', ''Rusidava'', ''Sacidava'', ''Sangidava'', ''Setidava'', ''Singidava'', , ''Tamasidava'', ''Utidava'', ''Zargidava'', ''Ziridava'', ''Sucidava'' &ndash; 26 names altogether. # In Lower Moesia (the present Northern [[Bulgaria]]) and Scythia minor ([[Dobrudja]]): ''Aedeba'', ''*Buteridava'', ''*Giridava'', ''Dausadava'', ''Kapidaua'', ''Murideba'', ''Sacidava'', ''Scaidava'' (''Skedeba''), ''Sagadava'', ''Sukidaua'' (''Sucidava'') &ndash; 10 names in total. #In Upper Moesia (the districts of Nish, Sofia, and partly Kjustendil): ''Aiadaba'', ''Bregedaba'', ''Danedebai'', ''Desudaba'', ''Itadeba'', ''Kuimedaba'', ''Zisnudeba'' &ndash; 7 names in total. ''Gil-doba'', a village in [[Thracia]], of unknown location. ''Thermi-daua'', a town in [[Dalmatia]]. Probably a Grecized form of ''*Germidava''. ''Pulpu-deva'', (Phillipopolis) today [[Plovdiv]] in [[Bulgaria]]. ==Occupations== [[Image:Dacian gold coins.jpg|thumb|250px|Dacian gold coins of [[Koson]] type, 1st century BC.]] [[Image:2007 07260208.JPG|thumb|left|]] [[Image:2007 07260229.JPG|thumb|left|]] The chief occupations of Dacians were [[agriculture]], [[apiculture]], [[viticulture]], [[livestock]], [[ceramics (art)|ceramics]] and [[metal working]]. The Roman province Dacia is represented on Roman [[Sestertius]] (coin) as a woman seated on a rock, holding aquila, a small child on her knee holding ears of grain, and a small child seated before her holding grapes. They also worked the gold and silver mines of [[Transylvania]]. They carried on a considerable outside trade, as is shown by the number of foreign coins found in the country (see also [[Decebalus Treasure]]). Commercial relations were flourishing for centuries, first with the Greeks, then with Romans, as we can find even today an impressive collection of gold currency used in various periods of Dacian history. The first coins produced by the Geto-Dacians were imitations of silver coins of the Macedonian kings Philip II and Alexander III (the Great). Early in the 1st century BC, the Dacians replaced these with silver denarii of the Roman Republic, both official coins of Rome exported to Dacia and locally made imitations of them. ==Language== [[Image:Dacian objects.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Dacian objects.]] :''Main article: [[Dacian language]]'' The Dacians spoke an [[Indo-European language]], but its characteristics are still disputed, due to insufficient archaeological evidence. Greek sources quote some place names, words, and even a list of about fifty plants written in Greek and Roman sources (see [[List of Dacian plant names]]), but this is still not enough to classify it, although many scholars assume it was part of the [[Satem]] branch. The modern [[Romanian language]] has a [[Eastern Romance substratum|substratum]] of several hundred words from an ancient Balkan language {{Fact|date=December 2007}}, often identified with the language of the Dacians(like:"buturuga, barza, barda, beci.."). ==Political entities== [[Image:ClassicalBalkans1849.jpg|250px|thumb|left|Classical Dacia and environs, from Alexander G. Findlay's ''Classical Atlas to Illustrate Ancient Geography,'' New York, 1849.]] The migrations of the fore bearers of [[Ancient Greece]] (ca. 750 BC&mdash; or earlier) most likely originated at least in part from periodic swelled populations in the easy living found in the fertile plains of the region. Such migrations were in mythological times, and well before historical records. It is likely that trade with communities along the [[Danube]] via the [[Black sea]] was a regular occurrence, even in [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] times (2700 to 1450 BC). At the beginning of the 2nd century BC, under the rule of [[Rubobostes]], a Dacian king in present-day [[Transylvania]], the Dacians' power in the [[Carpathian basin]] increased by defeating the [[Celts]] who previously held the power in the region. A kingdom of Dacia was in existence at least as early as the first half of the 2nd century BC under King [[Oroles]]. Conflicts with the [[Bastarnae]] and the Romans (112 BC-109 BC, 74 BC), against whom they had assisted the [[Scordisci]] and [[Dardani]], greatly weakened the resources of the Dacians. Under [[Burebista]] (Boerebista), a contemporary of [[Julius Caesar]], who thoroughly reorganised the army and raised the moral standard of the people, the limits of the kingdom were extended to their maximum. The Bastarnae and [[Boii]] were conquered, and even the Greek towns of [[Olbia]] and [[Apollonia]] on the [[Black Sea]] (Pontus Euxinus) recognised [[Burebista]]'s authority. Indeed the Dacians appeared so formidable that Caesar contemplated an expedition against them; something his death prevented. About the same time, Burebista was murdered, and the kingdom was divided into four (or five) parts under separate rulers. One of these was [[Cotiso]], whose daughter [[Augustus]] is said to have desired to marry and to whom Augustus betrothed his own five-year-old daughter Julia. He is well known from the line in [[Horace]] (''Occidit Daci Cotisonis agmen'', Odes, III. 8. 18). The Dacians are often mentioned under Augustus, according to whom they were compelled to recognise Roman supremacy. However they were by no means subdued, and in later times to maintain their independence they seized every opportunity of crossing the frozen Danube during the winter and ravaging the Roman cities in the province of [[Moesia]]. ==Roman conquest== [[Image:Roman Dacia 1.1.svg|300px|thumb|right|Roman Dacia]] {{main|Dacian Wars|Roman Dacia}} {{Wikify|date=December 2007}} [[Trajan]] turned his attention to [[Dacia]], an area north of Macedon and Greece and east of the Danube that had been on the Roman agenda since before the days of Caesar<ref>Goldsworthy, ''In the Name of Rome'', p. 322</ref><ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 213</ref> when they had beaten a Roman army at the [[Battle of Histria]].<ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 215</ref> In 85, the Dacians had swarmed over the Danube and pillaged Moesia<ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 216</ref><ref>Luttwak, ''The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire'', p. 53</ref> and initially defeated an army the Emperor Domitian sent against them,<ref name="enemiesP217">Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 217</ref> but the Romans were victorious in the [[Battle of Tapae (88)|Battle of Tapae]] in 88 AD and a truce was drawn up.<ref name="enemiesP217"/> From AD85 to AD89, the Dacians (under [[Decebalus]]) were engaged in two wars with the Romans. In AD87, the Roman troops under [[Cornelius Fuscus]] were defeated, and Cornelius Fuscus was killed by the Dacians under the authority of their ruler, Diurpaneus. After this victory, Diurpaneus took the name of Decebalus.{{Fact|date=November 2007}} The next year, AD88, new Roman troops under [[Tettius Iullianus]], gained a signal advantage, but were obliged to make peace owing to the defeat of [[Domitian]] by the [[Marcomanni]], so the Dacians were really left independent. Even more, Decebalus received the status of "king client to Rome", receiving from Rome military instructors, craftsmen and even money. Emperor Trajan recommenced hostilities against Dacia and, following an uncertain number of battles,<ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 219</ref> defeated the Dacian general [[Decebalus]] in the [[Battle of Tapae (101)|Second Battle of Tapae]] in 101 AD.<ref>Luttwak, ''The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire'', p. 54</ref> With Trajan's troops pressing towards the Dacian capital [[Sarmizegethusa]], Decebalus once more sought terms.<ref>Goldsworthy, ''In the Name of Rome'', p. 329</ref> Decebalus rebuilt his power over the following years and attacked Roman garrisons again in 105 AD. In response Trajan again marched into Dacia,<ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 222</ref> besieging the Dacian capital in the [[Siege of Sarmizegethusa]], and razing it to the ground.<ref>Matyszak, ''The Enemies of Rome'', p. 223</ref> With Dacia quelled, Trajan subsequently [[Trajan's invasion of the Parthian Empire|invaded the Parthian empire]] to the east, his conquests taking the Roman Empire to its greatest extent. Rome's borders in the east were indirectly governed through a system of [[client states]] for some time, leading to less direct campaigning than in the west in this period.<ref>Luttwak, ''The Grand Strategy of the Roman Empire'', p. 39</ref> To expand the glory of his reign, restore the finances of Rome, and end a treaty perceived as humiliating, Trajan resolved on the conquest of Dacia and with it the capture of the famous Treasure of Decebalus and control over the Dacian [[gold mine]]s of [[Transylvania]]. The result of his first campaign (101&ndash;102) was the siege of the Dacian capital Sarmizegethusa and the occupation of a part of the country. The second campaign (105&ndash;106) ended with the suicide of Decebalus, and the conquest of the territory that was to form the [[Roman province]] [[Roman Dacia|Dacia Traiana]]. The history of the war is given by [[Cassius Dio]], but the best commentary upon it is the famous [[Trajan's Column|Column of Trajan]] in [[Rome]]. Although the Romans conquered and destroyed the ancient Kingdom of Dacia, a large remainder of the land remained outside of Roman Imperial authority. Additionally, the conquest changed the balance of power in the region and was the catalyst for a renewed alliance of Germanic and Celtic tribes and kingdoms against the Roman Empire. However, the material advantages of the Roman Imperial system wasn't lost on much of the surviving aristocracy. Thus, most of the Romanian historians and linguists believe that many of the Dacians became Romanised (see also [[Origin of Romanians]]). Nonetheless, Germanic and Celtic kingdoms, particularly the Gothic tribes made a slow progression toward the Dacian borders and soon within a generation were making assaults on the province. Ultimately, the Goths succeeded in dislodging the Romans and restoring the independence of Dacia following Aurelian's withdrawal, in 275. The province was abandoned by Roman troops, and, according to the ''Breviarium historiae Romanae'' by [[Eutropius]], Roman citizens "from the town and lands of Dacia" were resettled to the interior of Moesia. [http://www.ccel.org/p/pearse/morefathers/eutropius_breviarium_2_text.htm] However, Romanian historians maintain that the bulk of the civilian population remained and a surviving aristocratic Dacian line revived the kingdom under [[Regalianus]]. About his origin, the ''Tyranni Triginta'' says he was a Dacian, a kinsman of Decebalus. Nonetheless, the Gothic aristocracy remained ascendant and through intermarriage soon dominated the kingdom which was absorbed into their larger empire. During [[Diocletian]], circa AD296, in order to defend the Roman border, fortifications are erected by the Romans, on both banks of the Danube<ref>''Charles Matson Odahl: Constantine and the Christian Empire''</ref>. ==See also== [[Image:Royal Dacian Helmet Cotofenesti.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Royal helmet]] * [[List of Dacian kings]] * [[List of Dacian chiefs]] * [[List of Dacian cities]] * [[List of Dacian tribes]] **[[Getae]] ** [[Carpians]] * [[Dacian Draco]] * [[Trajan's Column]] * [[Dacian language]] * [[Falx]] (weapon) * [[Trajan's Bridge]] <br clear=both> {{Romanian topics}} {{-}} <div style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br> <hr noshade size="4" width="100%"/> &lt; ''' [[Prehistoric Romania|Prehistory]] | [[History of Romania]] | [[Roman Dacia]] ''' &gt; <hr noshade size="4" width="100%"/> </div> ==References== *Hoddinott, Ralph F., ''The Thracians'', 1981. {{reflist}} ==External links== *[http://soltdm.com/index.htm ''Sorin Olteanu's Thraco-Daco-Moesian Languages Project'' (SoLTDM)] (sources, thesaurus, textual criticism, phonetics and morphology, substratum, historical geography a.o.) *[http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Periods/Roman/_Texts/Ptolemy/3/5*.html Ptolemy's ''Geography'', book III, chapter 5] *[http://www.unrv.com/provinces/dacia.php/ UNRV Dacia article] *[http://sights.seindal.dk/sight/299_Arch_of_Constantine-all.html sights.seindal.dk] - Dacians as they appear on the Arch of Constantine *[http://www.fectio.org.uk/articles/draco.htm www.fectio.org.uk] - Draco Late Roman military standard *[http://www.stoa.org/trajan www.stoa.org/trajan] - Dacian Wars on [[Trajan's Column]] *[http://www.losttrails.com/pages/Hproject/ThracoGetae/ThracoGetae01-00.html Journey to the Land of the Cloud Rovers] - photographic slide show of Sarmizegetusa. 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