Burebista

[Quintus Aurelius Lepidus]

Hi

I once read that Caesar planned to launch a campaign against Burebista. I can't remember where I read this but yesterday evening, I mentioned it in a course. The archaeologist said this to be a myth but could not say why. What do you guys think about this?

[D B Campbell]

I once read that Caesar planned to launch a campaign against Burebista.

The source is Strabo, Geography 7.3.5.

[Quintus Aurelius Lepidus]

tnx duncan

[Zenobia of Palmyra]

Did Burebista or any Dacian tribes raid Roman territory in the 1st Century BC? I thought they didn't start picking on Rome til later, in the time of Domitianus.

[diegis]

Did Burebista or any Dacian tribes raid Roman territory in the 1st Century BC? I thought they didn't start picking on Rome til later, in the time of Domitianus.

Well, Dacians of Burebista included in their kingdom/empire Schytia Minor (considered by Romans as their teritory of interest) and attacked and pillaged as far as Macedonia and Illyria in south, which was already roman provinces back then. Burebista eliminated the Celtic presence (well, at least as significant presence or power) in central Europe and what was later Panonia (today Hungary and Slovakia) was included as well in their empire (some Jordanes interpretations may imply that Burebista army advanced as far as southern today Germania), and, more then that, Burebista made an alliance with Pompeius, promising him help during civil war with Caesar. I read that he even send an army to help Pompey, but Pompey, pressed by his leutenents, agree to give a decissive battle with Caesar at Pharsalus, on the base that he had numerical superiority (and probably doesnt want to share the glory with some "barbarians"), and dont wait the joint with the Getae/Dacian army who wasnt arrived yet.

Caesar know all this, and probably he wanted to eliminate Burebista and Dacia as potential rival of Rome in Europe, and for revenge and glory ofcourse.

[Quintus Aurelius Lepidus]

what was in it for Burebista when he promised help for Pompey?

[diegis]

what was in it for Burebista when he promised help for Pompey?

From what i read they agreed about the borders of Dacia and Rome in Balkanic peninsula (Dacian kingdom southern border was established on Haemus mountains, and Pompeius agreed with that). Thus Romans agreed that (later province) Moesia and Thracia belong to Dacia, and probably Dacians agreed to stop their attacks and pillaging in Macedonia and Ilyria (Roman provinces by then).
As well Burebista know probably something more about Caesar, and saw him as a more dangerous opponent if become the supreme leader in Rome. Who knows, if Pompeius awaited for the Dacian army (who was on the way) to join him, is very possible that Caesar would be defeated, and history had another course

[Merlkir]

Burebista also probably wanted to rather avoid a conflict with Rome if possible, although we know he expected the invasion - a large number of mountain forts was built around this time.
If Caesar was defeated, as diegis points out, there may have been less of a chance of a roman invasion. A rather ironic twist of fate - shortly after (iirc, I've read a book abouit recently, but I don't have it here to quote from) Caesar's assassination, Burebista was also murdered by a group of unsatisfied tribal chieftains.

The Dacians had bad luck betting on the winner of this roman civil war anyways, I recall they tried to ally themselves with Brutus as well.