DOMITIAN’S DACIAN WAR

Domitian, who was one of the most vilified Roman emperors, had suffered damnatio memoriae by the senate after his assassination in 96. The condemnation of senate sympathizer authors such as Tacitus, Suetonius, and Cassius Dio overshadowed many of Domitian’s accomplishments, including the Dacian campaign. Despite initial setbacks in 86 and 87, Domitian managed to push the invading Dacians into the Dacian territory and even approached to the Dacian capital in 88. However, the Saturninus revolt and instability in the Chatti and Pannonia in 89 prevented Domitian focusing on the Dacia region. The peace treaty which stopped the Dacian incursions, without annexing the Dacian territory is consistent with Domitian’s non-expansionist imperial policy. This peace treaty stabilized a hostile area and turned Dacia a client kingdom. After dealing with various threats, in his final years, he strengthened the auxiliary forces in Dacia, stabilizing the Dacian frontier. Domitian’s these new endeavors opened the way of the area’s total subjugation by Trajan in 106.