DE BELLO DACICO - II DACIAN CAMPAIGN

The outcome of the campaign did not discourage Decebalus, who hired again Bastarnae and Roxolani and tried to recruit even Iazyges, who mindful of the recent defeats inflicted on them by Trajan refused the proposal. The first campaign had made it clear to Decebal that the clash with Trajan was unequal, as the Roman emperor was the commander of an army that under his own insignia had victoriously fought against  Quadi, Marcomanni and Iazyges, strong people, definitely defeated in the 98, while the army of Decebal, as brave and numerous were the Dacians, was not fighting since 88.
Doubtful on the preparation of his army, Decebal sought allies everywhere. With the many forces that had managed to put in place, in the winter of 102 the king of Dacians  attached the Roman province of Moesia Inferior with a Dacian army commanded by Rosiedano and the Roxolani cavalry.

But Manlius Laberius Maximus, governor of Moesia Inferior, did not get caught, while the heavy snow made it difficult to advance Rosiedano. Afflicted by terrible frost, having to sleep in tents, many Dacians fell sick.
Roxolani, as Laberius remained within the camps, ventured into the Moesia Inferior, doing raids. But also they found themselves in some difficulty because in this season the pastures were sterile and was increasingly difficult for them to feed the great multitude of horses and pack animals.

Trajan meanwhile ordered Laberius not to leave the fortifications and wait for his arrival.
The Roxolani tried to attack the Roman fortifications defended by Laberius, but rejected, as it was their custom, camped without precaution nearby. Meanwhile Trajan came with the cavalry and without hesitation attacked and defeated the unprepared enemy. Next the Romans marched against the Dacian army, which although not far away were unaware of everything and especially of the arrival of Trajan, who immediately attacked and defeated them. The Dacian survivors were put to flight, many were captured.

Decebal, trying to stop the Roman army, launched a counter-offensive, but the Romans were able to field more than 200 “carrobaliste” (the mobile Roman artillery), with which bombed the Dacians, then move to combat and crush their resistance.
The chiefs of the people allocated in Dacian plains, next to Moesia Inferior, felt betrayed by Decebal, that while had promised to intervene in their defence, stood on the Orastie mountains. Trajan both for his natural disposition and to isolate Decebal showed towards them extremely generous.

The attempt of Decebal to surprise Trajan was a failure, thanks to the readiness of the governor of Moesia Inferior, Manius Laberius Maximus. In retrospect we can say that Decebal strategy was wrong in the first campaign, forcing the cavalry of the mercenaries to fight in unfavorable conditions and were wrong in the second campaign, since to surprise the Romans, he threw the attack in the midst of a cold winter, causing great suffering to Dacian army and great difficulty to Roxolani horsemen, as winter pastures were barren, and 10,000 Roxolani led not less than 20 000 horses, as well as beasts of burden dragging their carts.

As a result the Roxolani not having found unprepared the Romans, instead of a quick victory had to siege the heavily armed Roman forts, until the lack of fodder forced them to send home part of the cavalry. If we add the indiscipline of these nomadic peoples, the victory was to the Romans served on a silver platter.

Now Decebal had exhausted his cards, he could only wait, entrenched in the Orastie mountains, the moves of Trajan.

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