The Dacians and Getae at War

4th Century BC– 2nd Century AD

Author: Andrei Pogacias and Catalin Draghici Series: Men-at-Arms

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This intriguing book describes the Romans' formidably warlike enemies in modern Romania and Bulgaria - their 'most illustrated' opponents, thanks to friezes on Trajan's Column and carvings on Trajan's Adamklissi monument.

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Summary

Description

This intriguing book describes the Romans’ formidably warlike enemies in modern Romania and Bulgaria – their ‘most illustrated’ opponents, thanks to friezes on Trajan’s Column and carvings on Trajan’s Adamklissi monument.

Formidable warriors, able to field tens of thousands of infantry and cavalry and led by a military aristocracy, the Dacians and Getae presented a real threat to Rome’s north-eastern frontier. They inflicted several defeats on Rome, crossing the Danube to invade the province of Moesia, and later stubbornly resisting counter-invasions from their strong mountain fortresses.

Historians believe that the Dacians and Getae were essentially the same group of tribes during successive periods, related to Thracian tribes from territory south of the Carpathian Mountains, but their exact relationship in place and time is a subject for debate. Those called the ‘Getae’ by ancient Greek sources were actively expanding by at least the 4th century BC; some enlisted as mercenaries in Roman armies during the 1st century BC, and others later clashed with the army of Augustus, fighting alongside the Sarmatians. The people whom the Romans called the ‘Dacians’ are best known from wars against the emperors Domitian in AD 85–89 and Trajan in 101–106. At their peak, the Dacians and Getae defeated neighbouring peoples stretching from modern Slovakia to southern Ukraine and it is believed that the effectiveness of their weapons caused modifications in Roman infantry armour.

Although most direct ancient sources have been lost to us, enough references remain to reconstruct a picture of their society and culture. Using previously unseen photos of archaeological finds with colour illustrations showing the appearance and weaponry of their warrior kings, noblemen, infantry and cavalry, this detailed book draws upon the latest literary and archaeological research to provide a complete account of these fascinating fighters.

Critic Reviews

well-produced, extensively illustrated and carefully edited little book. Army Rumour Service

About the Author

Andrei Pogacias was born in 1980 in Romania. He studied Law, then History and International Relations at the Babes-Bolyai University of Cluj (Romania), where he also did an MBA in Conflict and Crisis Management and a PhD about the 18th century wars between Austria, Russia and Turkey. He works as an editor for a major Romanian publishing house and is also a translator and freelance military historian. He has published on Eastern European military history, from ancient times to the First World War and is currently working on books in both Romanian and English. His hobbies are puzzles, military figures and models, historical re-enactment and heavy metal music. One of his dreams is to present the true history of Romania to western audiences in the best way possible.