Dacia

Dacia, ancient land of eastern Europe, inhabited by the Daci or Getae, a people of Thracian stock. Dacia corresponded roughly to modern Romania and part of Hungary, extending from the Carpathian Mountains in the north to the Danube in the south and from the Dnestr River in the east to the Tisza River in the west. A kingdom of Dacia existed as early as the 2nd century bc. In the reign of Augustus, emperor of Rome, the Dacians, who were formidable warriors, began to threaten the lands south of the Danube which the Romans regarded as a natural frontier. Between ad 85 and 89 the Dacians agreed a peace with Emperor Domitian, who purchased immunity from Dacian raids by payment of an annual tribute. In a series of campaigns ad 101-107, Emperor Trajan conquered Dacia which became a Roman province. His victories were commemorated on Trajan's column in Rome, which is still standing. The Goths drove the Romans out of most parts of Dacia in 256, and Emperor Aurelian finally abandoned the province (270-275), removing the Roman colonies south of the Danube to Moesia.