DE BELLO DACICO - IV DACIAN CAMPAIGN

Once pacified Dacia, Trajan named Gnaeus Pinarius Cicatricula Longinus governor of Moesia Inferior instead of Manlius Liberius Maximus, that having bravely resisted the Daci and Roxolani, became part of the Trajan “Consilium Principis” and followed him to Rome (the Consilum Principis, established by Domitian, was placed at a level higher than that of the Senate, assisted the emperor in every subject of interest of the state). While the Roman colonists, accompanied by their garrisons, occupied Apulum, Buridava and Poroboridava, Decebal, overflowing with anger for the humiliation he suffered, secretly prepared the redemption and first assassinated the Dacian leaders friends of the Roman people.

Shortly after he rebuilt the fortresses in the Orastie mountains.
At the end of 104 Cicatricula was informed, by our colonists settled in Piroboridava, that a large mass of Roxolani moved towards the province.

The governor imagined that Roxolani were moving according to the orders of Decebal, then wrote to him warning to stop the barbarians. To clarify things the Dacian king proposed a meeting, which Cicatricula went with a few fellows, fell into an ambush and was taken captive. Before being led in chains to Decebal, Cicatricula committed suicide.
In the spring of 105 the king of the Dacian sparked the war.
He came down from the north with large forces. Crossed the pass of Bran (today known for Dracula's Castle), ran through the valley with the River Ordessos.

In his advance routed the Roman garrisons of Alexandria, Popesti and Piscul, who crossed the Danube to refuge in the strongholds of Oescus, Novae, Appiaria (today Rjahovo in Bulgaria), Durostorum (today Slistra in Bulgaria), Sucidava (today Corabia in Romania ) and Axiopolis (today Cernavodă in Romania), where a triple rampart of stone defended Moesia Inferior by Sarmatian.

Meanwhile, according to the orders of the Decebal, Roxolani were advancing from the east to the Roman province.

Trajan ordered the mobilization of all the legions, the vexillationes and auxiliaries who had taken part in the first Dacian war. In the same time  Decebal besieged Novae, seat of Legio I Italica, Sexanta Prista, harbor of the fleet Moesica, Durostorum seat of Legio XXI Rapax, Appiaria, Sucidava and Axiopolis, where were distributed German auxiliaries.
From the east were pressing the Roxolani who, rejected at Axiopolis, attempted to cross the Danube between Sucidava and Durostorum. Giusto, recommended by Laberius, ordered the Legio XXI Rapax to oppose the barbarians with all the strength.
With the help of the Germanic cavalry, Romans repelled Roxolani, but blamed heavy losses, while the Sarmatian giving themselves fled, chased by the Germans, had non so many fallen.

Trajan, left Rome, by forced marches reached  Moesia Superior.
Decebal, when had news of Trajan, tried with all his forces to conquer Novae, but the legionaries and auxiliaries, comforted by the news that the Emperor was oncoming with great forces, resisted.

Proceeding without stopping Trajan advanced to free Novae, while Decebal, fearing to succumb, removed the siege and retreated eastward to join Roxolani near Axiopolis, where he accepted the battle, but defeated  at the first clash, preferred to withdraw to preserve his army, while Roxolani abandoned him returning to their lands.

The retreat of Decebal left the Romans masters of the field, but now the good season was declining, so the emperor decided to postpone the offensive against Decebal to next spring and preferred to help the inhabitants of the province starting reconstruction works.

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