Imperial Rome v Dacia and Allies
Setting the scene for the battle.
The Roman empire under Emperor Trajan set out to finally conquer Dacia. The key reason given was Dacias ‘lack of respect for Rome.’ After inflicting a defeat on the Dacians at the second battle of Tapae Trajan withdrew a large section of his army with the intention of continuing his campaign in the spring of 102 AD with the aim of capturing the Dacian capitol of Sarmizegutsa. However, the Dacian leader, Decebalas took advantage of this delay in the campaign and crossed the frozen Danube and attacked the Roman province of Mosea.
Trajan, in response, withdrew his forces from the mountains near the Dacian capitol of Sarmizegutsa and with reinforcements from the west and south forced the Dacians to battle at Adamclisi. The Dacians along with sizeable allied contingents from Sarmatia and Germanic tribes would have constituted a substantial force which may have been at least equal to Trajan’s army in terms of numbers. However, the actual size of the opposing forces is still a subject of speculation.
The battle resulted in an extremely hard fought Roman victory in which Roman records indicate that 4000 Romans were killed.
After the battle Trajan advanced once more on the Dacian capital of Sarmizegusta and Decebalas requested a truce which was favourable to the Romans. Trajan withdrew, but embarked on his final campaign against the Dacians in 105 and 106 AD. This resulted in the capture of Sarmizegusta and the death of Decebalas. Dacia then became a Roman province under the name of Romania.
The Game
Nine members of the Forest Outlaws Wargames Club re-fought this epic battle throughout the day. A significant portion of the very large Imperial Roman army was painted and based by Dave Mac, a long term member of the club who passed away a short while ago. It was a fitting tribute to his unwavering passion for the hobby that his Roman army should be used in this game by his fellow club members.
- IMG_2096sm.JPG (50.46 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
- IMG_2100sm.JPG (60.11 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
The players were each allocated various sections of very large the Roman and Dacian armies to command. The area on which the battle of Adamclisi was fought and the present day location of the Roman built monument is generally flat, low lying ground with a few raised areas gentle slopes and shallow hills. This was represented on the 14ft table with the Dacian centre located on the only significant area of higher ground.
- IMG_2103sm.JPG (65.08 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
The armies soon closed on each other with the light cavalry units of each side quickly engaged. A narrow river snaked across near one of the table edges which provided a defendable barrier between Pete's Romans and Gary’s Dacians on the right wing. On the more open opposite wing Chris and Pugs engaged in a more open cavalry engagement.
- IMG_2113sm.JPG (76.31 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
- IMG_2120sm.JPG (63.2 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
The massed Dacian hordes in the centre then clashed head-on with the Roman Legionaries and Auxiliaries. An archery battle gradually whittled down the opposing lines of shooters clearing the way for the bulk of the infantry to get ‘stuck-in’ to a brutal and extended hand-to-hand engagement. This was always going to be a battle of attrition. Observing from the sidelines, after a couple of hours the Romans seemed to be gradually pushing the Dacians back in both the centre and right wing. On the left wing the Dacian cavalry gained the upper-hand and were gradually starting to out-flank the Roman line.
- IMG_2121sm.JPG (76.51 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
- IMG_2124sm.JPG (87.33 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
On my next visit to the game about an hour later, the Dacians had started a fight back in the centre where Tim’s defence of the raised ground had stopped the Roman advance with massive casualties inflicted on both sides. The Sarmation heavy cavalry units made their presence felt and delivered some punishing combat outcomes on their Roman opponents. Dacian warrior hordes were sent fleeing only to rally and return to the fight before the Romans could achieve any territorial advantage.
- IMG_2126sm.JPG (77.45 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
The attritional nature of the battle had ‘thinned’ both battle lines to the point that gaps were beginning to open. But by 3.30 in the afternoon neither side had sufficient reserves available with which to exploit a breakthrough. The Roman right wing was about to be turned but the Roman centre and left remained strong and neither army was at breaking point.
- IMG_2127sm.JPG (78.16 KiB) Viewed 2829 times
If pushed I think the Dacians could claim an extremely marginal victory. This would in many ways reverse, but at the same time closely echo the historical outcome which was believed to be a marginal Roman victory. History is written by the victors, but despite the celebratory monuments including Trajan’s column it took the mighty Roman Empire 5 more years to finally defeat the Dacians.
