Burebista: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|1st-century BC Thracian king of the Getae and Dacians}}

'''Burebista''' ({{lang-grc|Βυρεβίστας, Βοιρεβίστας}}) was the king of the [[Getae]] and [[Dacians|Dacian]] tribes from 82/61{{nbsp}}BC to 45/44{{nbsp}}BC. He was the first king who successfully unified the tribes of the [[Dacian kingdom]], which comprised the area located between the [[Danube]], [[Tisza]], and [[Dniester]] rivers, and modern day [[Romania]] and [[Moldova]]. In the 7th and 6th{{nbsp}}centuries BC it became home to the Thracian peoples, including the Getae and the Dacians. From the 4th{{nbsp}}century to the middle of the 2nd{{nbsp}}century BC the Dacian peoples were influenced by [[La Tène culture|La Tène]] Celts who [[Celtic settlement of Eastern Europe|brought new technologies with them into Dacia]]. Sometime in the 2nd{{nbsp}}century BC, the Dacians expelled the Celts from their lands. Dacians often warred with neighbouring tribes, but the relative isolation of the Dacian peoples in the [[Carpathian Mountains]] allowed them to survive and even to thrive. By the 1st{{nbsp}}century BC the Dacians had become the dominant power.

Before Burebista's rule, the Dacians had experienced a succession of kings through the period 450 to 60{{nbsp}}BC. The kings included [[Dromichaetes]], [[Oroles]], and [[Rubobostes]] in the 3rd and 2nd{{nbsp}}centuries BC.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}} From the 4th{{nbsp}}century BC to the 2nd{{nbsp}}century BC the La{{nbsp}}Tène Celts of the Danube, Alpines, and Balkans influenced the Dacian culture. La{{nbsp}}Tène material culture was found in the central and north-west regions of Dacia. The development of a La{{nbsp}}Tène-based economy in the 3rd and 2nd{{nbsp}}centuries BC allowed the consolidation of political power through tribal unions. Such regional unions were found among both the Transylvanian Dacians under the rule of Rubobostes and the Moldavian and Muntenian Getae in [[Argedava]].{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}}

It is from the La{{nbsp}}Tène that the Dacians were introduced to the potter's wheel, superior metal-working techniques, and probably a tradition of minting coins. In homes were found a combination of Celtic and Dacian pottery, and certain Celtic-style graves contain Dacian style vessels. This suggests a sort of co-existence and fusion between the cultures. Sometime after around 150{{nbsp}}BC, however, evidence of La{{nbsp}}Tène culture peters out, around the same time the Dacian culture began to mature, as evidenced by population and economic growth. Under Rubobstes the authority of the Dacians appears to have increased, thus [[Celts in Transylvania|ending the dominance of the Celtic culture]], and leading to the Celts being expelled from the area or merging into the culture, or both.{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=549}} There is archaeological evidence to suggest that relations between Dacians and Celts living in the areas north and west of Dacia continued. Painted ceramics of late La{{nbsp}}Tène-style have been found in Dacian sites in west and central Dacia. Some of these ceramics were imported while others were made by Dacian potters imitating Celtic style.{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=550}} A stable monarchy, however, only developed when Burebista became king.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}}{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=165}} Burebista's accession came with the expulsion of Celts around 60{{nbsp}}BC when his forces moved through to the middle Danube region, and with the support of the religious establishment and leaders in Dacia which brought around a stricter moral code in the Dacian kingdom.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}}{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=550}} Around this time the pottery of the Dacian style began appearing in Celtic settlements in Central Europe, including the area covered by the former Yugoslavia, especially in [[Gomolava]], Yugoslavia, and [[Budapest]], Hungary.{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=550}}

The exact date that Burebista came to reign over the Dacians is debated among scholars; [[University of Illinois]] professor [[Keith Hitchins]] givegave a starting date for Burebista's reign of 82{{nbsp}}BC,{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|page=7}} while historian [[Matthew Bunson]], and authors [[John Middleton (historian)|John Middleton]] and [[Michael Schmitz]] suggest a starting date around 61–60 BC.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=165}}{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}}{{sfn|Schmitz|2005|page=10}} The historian [[John T. Koch|John Koch]] states that Burebista founded an empire sometime during the 1st{{nbsp}}century BC and that around 61{{nbsp}}BC Burebista expelled the Celts and moved into the middle Danube.{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|pages=549–550}}

In the [[Dacian Fortresses of the Orăștie Mountains|OrăştieOrăștie Mountains, Burebista built a system of stone fortifications on high ground]]; the most important of such hill forts are located today in the villages of [[Costești-Cetățuie Dacian fortress|CosteştiCostești]], [[Costești-Blidaru Dacian fortress|Blidaru]], [[Piatra Roșie Dacian fortress|Piatra RoşieRoșie]], and [[Dacian fortress of Bănița|BăniţaBănița]]. These citadels, which exhibited Greek military architecture, coupled with the presence of Burebista and his armed forces, served to secure the Dacian people internally.{{sfn|Phang|Spence|Kelly|Londey|2016|page=745}}{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}}

From around 61 BC Burebista began to lead a series of campaigns of conquest against neighbouring tribes and clans.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=165}} In 60/59{{nbsp}}BC he defeated and conquered the [[Boii]], who were led by [[Critasiros]], and the [[Taurisci]] tribes dwelling in the Middle Danube, in modern [[Bohemia]] and [[Slovakia]].{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}}{{sfn|Phang|Spence|Kelly|Londey|2016|page=745}}{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=550}} The Boii had established a tribal presence in the areas now occupied by eastern Austria and south-western Slovakia and Hungary sometime in 75–50{{nbsp}}BC. The Boii extended their influence eastward towards modern day Bratislava, Slovakia around 64–63{{nbsp}}BC. It is these Boii tribes east of the Alps that came into conflict with the Dacians and were heavily defeated in 50–40{{nbsp}}BC.{{sfn|Koch|n.d.|page=225}}[[File:Pannonian_wars_remake.png|thumb|right|alt=Burebista campaigns against the celts|The map that shows the Dacian invasion of Boii and Taurisci]]
These conquests were followed by the destruction of the [[Bastarnae]] peoples.{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=165}} Similarly, Burebista conquered a tribe that Strabo describes as living among the [[Illyrians]] and Thracians{{snd}}most likely the [[Scordisci]]{{snd}}while simultaneously conducting raids throughout Thrace, [[Roman Macedonia]], and [[Illyria]].{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=165}}{{sfn|Mugnai|2016|page=4}}

Beginning around 55 BC Burebista annexed the Greek cities on the coast of the Black Sea, occupying the Greek fortresses from [[Pontic Olbia|Olbia]] to [[Apollonia, Thrace|Apollonia]], as well as the Danubian plain all the way to the Balkans.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|page=7}}{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}}{{sfn|Mugnai|2016|page=4}} These conquered cities were: Olbia, [[Tyras]], [[Histria (ancient city)|Histria]], [[Tomis (ancient city)|Tomis]], [[Callatis]], [[Varna, Bulgaria|Odessos]], [[Messembria]], Apollonia, and [[Dionysupolis|Dionysopolis]].{{sfn|Mugnai|2016|page=4}} Dionysopolis, however, enjoyed good relations with Burebista.{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}} An inscription dating to 48{{nbsp}}BC found in Dionysopolis and in honour of [[Akornion of Dionysopolis]] describes Akornion as the "first and greatest friend" of Burebista.{{sfn|Oltean|2007|page=47}} Akornion was sent as an ambassador to Pompey to claim the title of "king of kings" for Burebista to be used within the Hellenistic kingdoms of the Balkans and the Near East.{{sfn|Oltean|2007|page=47}}[[File:Dacian_Kingdom_under_Burebista_Remastered.png|thumb|right|alt=Dacia under Burebista|The Dacian kingdom under Burebista and its neighbors]]

Burebista may have outlived Caesar for only a short time. In the same year Caesar was assassinated, Burebista was killed in a plot by the Dacian aristocracy, who saw a centralized state as leading to a reduction in their privileges. After his death, the Dacian kingdom dissolved, with the exception of the enclave around the OrăştieOrăștie Mountains,{{sfn|Pippidi|1976|pages=116–117}}{{sfn|Bunson|2014|page=83}} while the rest became various smaller kingdoms.{{sfn|Phang|Spence|Kelly|Londey|2016|page=745}} After Burebista's death, the kingdom was divided into four parts, to be ruled by the religious elite. By the time of [[Augustus]] Dacia had broken further into five parts.{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}}{{sfn|Mugnai|2016|page=4}}

Decebalus' reign saw nearly constant warfare between the Dacians and Roman administrations south of the Danube.{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|page=8}} Around 85{{nbsp}}AD raiding resumed in Moesia, Illyria, and Macedonia, culminating in the death of the Roman Governor of Moesia, [[Oppius Sabinius]].{{sfn|Schmitz|2005|page=11}} In response, Domitian launched a campaign the same year under the command of the Praetorian Prefect [[Cornelius Fuscus]]. Domitian ignored Decebalus' offer of peace, an error which caused the Romans to suffer a disastrous defeat, losing not only Fuscus, but his forces and the Roman standards and war machines.{{sfn|Schmitz|2005|page=11}} A second expedition was launched in 88{{nbsp}}AD, this time under the command of [[Tettius Julianus]]. This second campaign was somewhat victorious as both sides suffered massive casualties in battle. However, revolts and defections forced Domitian to negotiate a hasty peace treaty with Decebalus in 89{{nbsp}}AD.{{sfn|Schmitz|2005|page=11}}{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|page=8}} This peace had benefits and costs to both sides: Rome had to pay financial tributes and provide technological assistance to Dacia; in exchange, Dacia effectively became a client kingdom of Rome, acting likeas a bulkhead tofor the empire by, separating Rome from other warring tribes.{{sfn|Schmitz|2005|pages=11–12}}{{sfn|Middleton|2015|page=223}}{{sfn|Hitchins|2014|page=8}}

*{{cite book|last1=Popa|first1=CǎtǎlinCătălin|last2=Stoddart|first2=Simon|title=Fingerprinting the Iron Age: Approaches to identity in the European Iron Age: Integrating South-Eastern Europe into the debate|date=2014|publisher=Oxbow Books|isbn=978-1-78297-675-2|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IbRiBwAAQBAJ&q=burebista}}

[[Category:DacianKings kingsof Dacia]]