Europe 106: Second Dacian War
Despite his treaty with Rome, King Decebalus of Dacia maintained a policy of rearmament and expansion, attacking the Roman client kingdom of the Iazyges in around 104. By 105 Trajan had had enough and invaded Dacia with a large army, conquering and annexing the kingdom the following year.
104? Dacian–Iazygan War▲
In around 104 King Decebalus of Dacia attacked and conquered the Iazgyes living in the plain of Oltenia, despite both the Dacians and the Iazyges being clients of the Roman Empire. This action brought Rome to the brink of war with Dacia and naturally created hostility with the Iazyges, the majority of who lived west of the Tisza River (an area geographically disconnected from Oltenia). War finally erupted in 105, when the Dacians began raiding Roman settlements in Moesia.
? ?? 105–11 Aug 106 Second Dacian War▲
In 105 the Dacians attacked Roman garrisons in Moesia, prompting Trajan to amass a huge army—and raise two new legions—for a conclusive war with Dacia. After constructing a great bridge—the longest arch bridge for more than 1,000 years—over the Danube, Trajan invaded Dacia in force, capturing the capital of Sarmizegetusa in 106. Vanquished, the Dacian king Decebalus committed suicide; his treasure hoard of 165 tons of gold and 300 tons of silver—a testimony to the mineral wealth of his kingdom—was discovered by the Romans soon after.
22 Mar 106 Arabia Petraea▲
In early 106 Rabel II Soter, the last ruler of the Nabataean Kingdom, died. Acting on Trajan’s orders, the Roman governor of Syria invaded the kingdom and, facing little apparent resistance, converted it into the Roman province of Arabia (later Arabia Petraea). At about the same time, the Decapolis was annexed and partitioned between Arabia and Judea.