Historical Overview Section

Dacia, in ancient geography was the land of the Dacians. It was named by the ancient Hellenes (Greeks) "Getae". Dacia was a large district of South Eastern Europe, bounded on the north by the Carpathians, on the south by the Danube, on the west by the Tisia or Tisa, on the east by the Tyras or 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 Thracian nations.

The Romans fought 2 wars against The Dacians:

  • Domitian's Dacian War--The two punitive expeditions mounted as a border defense against raids of Moesia‎ from Dacia in 86-87 AD ordered by the Emperor Titus Flavius Domitianus (Domitian) in 87 AD, and 88 AD. The first expedition was an unmitigated disaster, and the second achieved a peace, seen as unfavorable and shameful by many in Rome.
  • Trajan's Dacian Wars--The two campaigns of conquest ordered or lead by the Emperor Trajan in 101-102 AD, and 105-106 AD from Moesia‎ across the Danube north into Dacia. Trajan's forces were successful in both cases, reducing Dacia to client state status in the first, and taking the territory over in the second. The aim of the campaign was to expand the glory of Trajans 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 mines of Transylvania. The result of his first campaign (101–102) was the siege of the Dacian capital Sarmizegethusa and the occupation of a part of the country. The second campaign (105–106) ended with the suicide of Decebalus, and the conquest of the territory that was to form the Roman province Dacia Traiana. The history of the war is given by Cassius Dio, but the best commentary upon it is the famous 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.

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. 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.

Using the army in ADLG

  • Elite 2HCW foot - very tasty, but very expensive
  • having too many allies Sarmatians can seriously mess up the simplicity of an attack through a forest by screaming nutters

Army Lists

Sample army lists for this army
Codgers 2024
2 Allen Dacian
Strategist
6 Dacian Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
1 Javelinmen Javelinmen
1 Bowmen Bowmen
2 LI Javelin Light infantry javelin
2 LI Bow Light infantry bow
3 Horsemen Light cavalry javelin
==
Ordinary Included
1 Bowmen Bowmen ------
6 Nobles with falx Medium swordsmen 2HW Elite
2 LI Bow Light infantry bow ------
1 LI Javelin Light infantry javelin ------
==
Sarmatian Included Ordinary Ally
3 Horsemen (inc. general) Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Horse Archer Light cavalry bow ------

92 Dacian Miller
Competent
2 Dacian Horsemen Light cavalry javelin
6 Dacian Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Bowmen Light infantry bow
1 Javelinmen Light infantry javelin
==
Brilliant
6 Nobles Medium swordsmen 2HW Elite
3 Dacian Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
3 Bowmen Light infantry bow ------
1 Dacian Horsemen Light cavalry javelin ------
=-
Sarmatian Ordinary Ally
3 Sarmation Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous ------
2 Horse Archers Light cavalry bow ------
1 Bowman Bowmen Mediocre



Beachhead 2024
2 Bowmen
7 MF Sword Impetuous
3 LF Bow
2 LH Bow
Strategist
==
6 Chopper Guys, Elite
4 LF Javelin
Competent General
==
Sarmatian Ally
4 HCv Impetuous
Included Ordinary General


200 points
92 dacian - Devonian Classic v4
Strategist
2 Dacian Horsemen Light cavalry javelin
7 Dacian Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous
2 Bowmen Bowmen
3 Bowmen Light infantry bow
==
Competent
6 Nobles with Falx Medium swordsmen 2HW Elite
4 Javelinmen Light infantry javelin ------
==
Ordinary Included Ally Sarmatian
3 Sarmation Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Sarmation Horsemen Heavy cavalry impetuous ------

Competent
1 Heavy cavalry with General Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Heavy cavalry Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Horse Archer Light cavalry bow ------
==
Strategist
8 Dacian Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
1 Bastarnae Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
2 Light Infantry Light infantry bow ------
==
Ordinary
4 Bastarnae Medium swordsmen 2HW Elite
2 Light Infantry Light infantry bow
2 Light cavalry Light cavalry javelin ------
1 Bastarnae Cavalry Medium cavalry Elite

200 Points
Strategist
8 Warriors Medium swordsmen impetuous ------
2 Light Infantry Light infantry bow ------
2 Bastarnae Medium swordsmen impetuous Elite
==
Ordinary
4 Light Infantry Javelin Light infantry javelin ------
4 Bastarnae Medium swordsmen 2HW Elite
2 Light cavalry Light cavalry javelin ------
==
Sarmatian Ally Competent
1 Heavy cavalry with General Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
2 Heavy cavalry Heavy cavalry impetuous Elite
1 Medium Cavalry Medium cavalry impetuous ------

Figures for this army

This is a full listing of all known 15mm manufacturers with specific Dacian ranges. You can also use Gallic toops - see the Gallic page for more details
You can see some of the figures in the Ancients Photo Gallery also on this site