Decebalus (died 106 AD) was King of Dacia from 87 to 106 AD, succeeding Duras. He was best known as a major adversary of the Roman emperors Domitian and Trajan, fighting three wars against the Roman Empire before committing suicide upon being defeated by Trajan at the end of the Dacian Wars.
Biography[]
Decebalus was born in Dacia, the son of King Scorilo and the nephew of King Duras. He initially served as one of his uncle's generals, leading a raid into Roman Moesia in 84-85 AD and decisively defeating Cornelius Fuscus' invading Roman army at the First Battle of Tapae in 86 AD. In 87, he succeeded Duras as king, and, in 88, he was defeated by the Roman general Tettius Julianus in another battle at Tapae. However, Rome was preoccupied with the Marcomanni and Iazyges, forcing Emperor Domitian to make peace with Decebalus and provide him with engineers and artisans, while also paying Decebalus a vast annual sum to keep the peace. Decebalus used these engineers and this massive tribute to build up his fortifications and war machines and prepare for a future war with the Roman Empire. He also allied with the Bastarnae and the Roxolani. In 101, the Roman emperor Trajan launched an invasion of Dacia, and Decebalus inflicted heavy losses on the Romans at the Second Battle of Tapae. Decebalus would himself suffer a major defeat at the Battle of Adamclisi in Moesia, and he was forced to concede defeat, cede some territory to Trajan, and dismantle his fortresses. However, he rebuilt his strength and subdued the Iazyges while re-arming his warriors. In 105, he attacked the Roman fortress at Banat, leading to a renewed Roman invasion at the Battle of Sarmizegetusa. Decebalus and his family fled as the Romans captured the city, and, after being cornered by his Roman pursuers, Decebalus committed suicide by slashing open his own throat. He bled out as the Roman cavalry scout Tiberius Claudius Maximus located him.