Decebala (Dechebela) statue on the Danube River, Romania. This is "the biggest face of Europe". This face belongs to the Dacian commander Decebalus, reaches a height of 40 meters and is the largest sculpture in Europe, carved from a monolithic rock. Lovers of antiquities will be disappointed: this statue is younger than you and me, it was built in 2004 by 12 sculptors who carved it into the rock for almost 10 years. The statue rises above the Danube waters and is perfectly visible even from Serbia.
Here's a little history about him:
The country of the Dacians, who in ancient times inhabited lands in the Carpathians between the Danube and Tisza rivers, was rich. In fertile fields, wheat, barley, flax, hemp grew; numerous herds grazed in the meadows; gold was mined in the mountains and rivers. But little of this wealth fell to the lot of ordinary peasants. From generation to generation, they lived in small, palisaded villages, in cramped wooden or reed huts built on poles and covered with thatch or reed. Coarse clay utensils, simple wooden plows and other tools were kept here; here they also buried the ashes of their burnt ancestors …
The tribal leaders and nobles of the Dacians, who, unlike the common people, wore high felt hats, were rich and powerful. Built by the labor of the poor, their castles towered on the inaccessible rocks - tall square towers, built of stone slabs, fastened with wooden beams, surrounded by a battlement and ramparts. And inside these castles were kept expensive weapons, glass and bronze vessels, jewelry purchased from Greek and Roman merchants in exchange for bread, leather and slaves …
At the end of the 1st century A. D. e. the talented commander Decebalus appeared in Dacia. Relying on the people, dissatisfied with the rule of the nobility, he tried to create a strong, unified state. Only by rallying, the Dacians could resist the Romans, who had already captured all the areas along the left bank of the Danube. More and more Roman merchants entered Dacia. And for merchants, Roman legions usually came to the country. It was necessary to gather all the strength to defend freedom.
The war with the Romans began already under the predecessor of Decebalus, King Diurpaneus. For a whole year there were battles between the Romans and the Dacians. Finally, the Roman army pushed the Dacians across the Danube and began to cross over to enemy land.
It was then that Diurpanei, not having the strength to continue the struggle, handed over his power to Decebalus. The new leader, starting to gain time, negotiations, at the same time began to vigorously prepare for war. He managed to force the nobility into obedience for a while and raise discipline in the army. At the same time, he convinced the neighboring tribes of Bastarns and Roxolans to conclude an alliance with him. With carts, families, herds, household belongings, they went to settle on the lands that Decebalus promised to win back from the Romans for them. He sent out his ambassadors to many tribes dependent on Rome. Under the influence of negotiations with Decebalus, these tribes refused to provide the Romans with auxiliary cavalry, and then rebelled against Roman rule.
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At the first clash with the Roman army, the Dacians won a brilliant victory. The commander of the Roman army was killed in the battles; a camp with combat vehicles was captured; almost an entire legion and some auxiliary units were killed, and - what was considered the greatest disgrace for Rome - the banner of the legion fell into the hands of the enemy. In the south of Dobruja, in Adamkliss, there is still a monument erected by the Romans in memory of those who fell in this battle, on which their names are written.
But Decebal was unable to make full use of the victory. The Dacian nobility weakened his army by their disobedience. And in the next battle, at Thapa, the Dacians were put to flight. The victory of the Romans opened the way for them to the Dacian capital - Sarmisegetuse. Fearing for her fate, Decebalus began to ask for peace. His brother arrived in Rome, brought weapons and prisoners seized from the Romans and, kneeling before the emperor, received the crown from his hands. So Decebalus recognized himself as dependent on the Roman state. At the cost of humiliation, he gained time and even bargained with Domitian for an annual financial aid. Rome also needed a respite: for almost eight years he waged a war with the rebellious Germanic tribes.
Decebalus followed events closely, preparing for a new war. His agents operated in the Roman army, in the provinces, among neighboring tribes. They skillfully sought out the dissatisfied, promised them shelter in Dacia and the protection of the Dacian king. He especially readily accepted deserted Roman soldiers, artisans, builders, mechanics who knew a lot about the construction of military vehicles and fortresses. Gradually, Decebalus negotiated an alliance with neighboring tribes, arguing that if they did not support him, sooner or later they themselves would become victims of the insatiable Rome. Some Slavic tribes also joined Decebal. He tried to negotiate with distant Parthia, the eternal rival of Rome.
Trajan's Column. Rome.
In Rome, these actions of Decebalus were known. The government could not reconcile itself to the fact that a force had arisen in the vicinity of the empire, ready to enter into an alliance with all who were dissatisfied with Roman rule. The war was becoming inevitable. It flared up when Trajan, a zealous defender of the interests of the Roman slave owners, became emperor.
Proclaimed emperor, Trajan immediately went to the Danube. He spent almost a year here, personally overseeing the construction of new fortresses, bridges and roads in the mountainous regions of Moesia. To the nine who stood on. Danube legions he added troops, called from Germany and the East. In addition, two more new legions were recruited. In total, together with the auxiliary detachments, there were about 200 thousand soldiers.
Finally, in the spring of AD 101. e. the Roman army, divided into two columns, crossed the Danube. The emperor himself commanded the western column. He walked to Tapa, to the approaches to Sarmizegetuz.
Even before reaching Tapa, the Romans heard the sounds of the bent pipes of the Dacians and saw their military badges - huge dragons with wolf heads.
Before the start of the battle, one of the tribes, allies of the Dacians, sent Trajan a huge mushroom, on which it was written that the Romans should keep the peace and that therefore they should retreat. But this peculiar letter did not stop Trajan. A bloody battle ensued. The Dacians, armed, in addition to bows, with crooked sickle-shaped swords, were especially terrible in hand-to-hand combat. They fought with unshakable courage, despising death. Many Romans fell in this battle.
After the battle, the Roman troops had to suspend the offensive. Gathering strength, the Romans at the same time sought to instill fear in the Dacians: on the occupied land, they destroyed villages, took the inhabitants into slavery.
The Romans have always been famous not only as ruthless conquerors, but also as dexterous diplomats. Now they tried to further inflame discord between the Dacian nobility and turn it against Decebalus. So then in Trajan's camp people appeared in high felt hats and, kneeling down, assured him of their loyalty and readiness to serve him.
Having recovered from the previous battle, the Romans launched a new offensive against Tapu. The Dacians bravely defended each peak, slowly retreating with stubborn battles. They went further and further into the mountains, taking with them the Roman prisoners.
The position of the Dacians deteriorated sharply when, unexpectedly, the auxiliary cavalry of the Romans struck them in the rear and rushed to Sarmisegetuse. Decebal; trying to gain time, began peace negotiations. But the Romans continued to advance, destroying fortress after fortress. More and more noble Dacians left Decebala and ran to Trajan.
The Dacian leader pinned his last hope on the troops stationed at the fortress of Apulum, but even here he was defeated. The path to the capital was open. Decebal had to agree to any terms of the world.
He himself appeared in Trajan's tent. Throwing aside his long straight sword - a sign of royal power, he fell to his knees. Decebalus admitted defeat and asked for leniency. In his presence, the garrison of Sarmisegetuza laid down its arms, where it was now, a Roman camp was set up. Under the peace treaty, the Dacians pledged to surrender their weapons and military vehicles, tear down the fortifications, hand over the artisans and soldiers who fled to them, no longer accept deserters and always have friends and enemies in common with the Roman people. To oversee the fulfillment of these conditions, Roman troops temporarily remained in the country.
Dacian Wars. 2nd century AD
In order to be able to quickly transfer reinforcements to Dacia, Trajan ordered to build a stone bridge across the Danube near the Drobeta fortress. Many decades later, this bridge aroused the amazement and admiration of travelers. It was a kilometer long, supported by 20 stone pillars, 28 m high and 15 m wide. They were 50 m apart and connected by arches along which the flooring was made.
However, Decebalus did not consider himself completely defeated. He fulfilled all the conditions of the peace treaty in order to quickly get rid of the Roman troops. But as soon as they left the country, Decebalus again ordered the rebuilding of fortresses and the construction of combat vehicles. He counted on unexpectedly attacking the Romans, taking them by surprise.
Gathering considerable forces, Decebalus in June 105 AD. e. began an assault on the Roman fortifications. At the same time, a Roman camp was captured in Sarmisegetus and the garrison was killed. However, this decisive onslaught was not crowned with success. The Dacians did not manage to break into Roman territory. Trajan hastily arrived with reinforcements. He was respectfully greeted by ambassadors from his Dacian supporters. Decebalus understood that this first defeat predetermined the outcome of the war. He knew that this time Trajan would not rest until he turned Dacia into a Roman province.
And again, in two columns, the Roman army reached for Sarmisegetuse. On the way, it met almost no resistance. The hastily built fortresses could not defend for a long time. The population, taking their property, went further into the mountains. But this time the capital was well prepared for the defense. Bastions, towers and moats stretched all the way to Tapa. The Dacians turned every rock and hill into a fortress. Huge reserves of food and gold were prepared in the city. Decebalus buried his own innumerable treasures in the riverbed at the very walls of the palace.
The siege of Sarmisegetuza lasted for a long time. From the west and east, it was besieged by the Roman army, gradually closing the ring more and more closely. Siege structures were built, trenches were dug. Now the Dacians made sorties, then the Romans tried to storm the city. Both the one and the other side had very high losses. More and more enemy heads were displayed on poles in the Roman camp and in the capital of the Dacians.
Decebalus hoped to hold out until the winter cold, hoping that the frosts would force the Romans to lift the siege. But treason has penetrated the ranks of his troops. Several noble Dacians secretly promised Trajan to open the eastern gates of the capital for him. To divert attention, Trajan ordered the Western army to storm the city at the appointed hour. After stubborn battles, she captured the advanced fortifications. At the same time, the traitors allowed the Romans into the city from the opposite side.
Anger and despair took possession of the Dacians when they saw enemies in their capital. They decided not to hand the city over to the victors and not surrender alive. A burning torch was thrown into the building of the royal palace. Behind him the wooden houses of Sarmisegetuza burned. In the main square, the Dacians set up a large cauldron of poison. Hundreds of residents of the capital held out their cups for the deadly drink. Already many corpses lay near the cauldron, but more and more crowds of those who preferred death to slavery approached. The father supported the dying son, preparing to immediately follow him. The mother brought the bowl of poison to the child, and then drank herself.
Roman cavalry attacking the rearguard of the Dacian army.
To the sounds of solemn music, Trajan entered the empty city at the head of the army. Here, among the smoking ruins and the corpses of their compatriots, the noble traitors fell to their knees before him and were graciously received by the victor. One of the closest associates of Decebalus told where his treasures were hidden. They were taken out of the river bed and taken to Trajan's tent. This gold enriched the Roman treasury for a long time. Trajan donated 50 million sesterces to the Temple of Jupiter alone.
But the war was not over yet. Decebal u managed to take some of the Dacians into the mountain forests. From there they continued to attack the Roman troops. Step by step the Romans pressed them. The position of the Dacians became almost hopeless when the Romans took the fortress of Apulum, which protected access to the northeastern, wildest part of the country. The Dacian partisans were still there.
The remnants of the defeated detachments gathered in the dense forest. Decebalus addressed them with the last speech. He said goodbye to his faithful companions and let them go. There was no more hope, and many turned to their last refuge - death. Some threw themselves on the sword, others asked their friends to deliver them with a dagger blow from the shame of slavery. Someone sought refuge with neighboring tribes in order to start a difficult, harsh, but free life there.
However, treason has penetrated into the last refuge of the vanquished. Some noble Dacians who followed Decebalus decided
win the favor of Trajan by betraying his leader. After all, the emperor's triumph will be incomplete if the once formidable enemy does not follow his chariot in chains. Announced by the traitors, the Roman troops blocked Decebala's path to retreat. Few of his companions were killed, Finally, a horse fell under him, pierced by a spear. Decebalus fell to the roots of a tall spruce. Already the Roman soldiers reached out to grab him. With a swift movement, he drew his dagger and cut his own throat. His head and right arm were delivered to the emperor and displayed in front of the crowd of soldiers.
The war is over. Dacia, turned into a province, was incorporated into the Roman Empire.
From the huge Dacian booty, rich awards were distributed to the army. On the occasion of the Dacian triumph, Trajan gave a 123-day celebration in Rome. 11 thousand animals and 10 thousand gladiators took part in the games. The Senate decided to use the funds taken from the booty to erect a monument in honor of the winner - a column. It was built for five years under the leadership of the Greek Apollodorus and has survived to this day. Its height reaches 40m. All of it is covered with relief images of military events and is crowned with a statue of Trajan. The emperor's ashes were subsequently buried at the base of this column.
The conquered Dacians, like all provincials, were taxed. Part of their land passed to Roman colonists and veterans. Stationed in camps and fortresses throughout the country, soldiers were tasked with keeping order and suppressing the movement of the disaffected.
But the people did not forget either the former freedom, or Decebalus who fought for it. Every now and then the country was invaded by free Dacians who had moved out of its borders. They have always met the sympathy and support of their fellow tribesmen. When, in the III century. the Roman state began to weaken, a liberation movement began in Dacia. Other tribes joined the Dacians …
Powerless to fight them, the Romans in the middle of the III century. were forced to leave Dacia.
It was the first province to throw off the hated Roman yoke.