Editing Decebalus (section)

== War against Emperor Domitian ==
{{main|Domitian's Dacian War}}
[[Domitian]] pushed back the Dacians from [[Moesia]], then returned to Rome to celebrate a Triumph, leaving [[Cornelius Fuscus|Fuscus]] in charge of the army. Fuscus advanced into Dacia, but his four or five legions suffered a major defeat when ambushed by the forces of Decebalus (the sources say "Diurpaneus" was in command, which might mean Decebalus or Duras). Two Roman legions (among which was the [[Legio V Alaudae|V ''Alaudae'']]) were ambushed and defeated at a mountain pass the Romans called [[Tapae]] (widely known as the [[Tapae|Iron Gates of Transylvania]]). Fuscus was killed, and Decebalus was crowned king after the ageing Duras [[abdicated]].

[[Dio Cassius]] described Decebalus as follows:
{{cquote|This man was shrewd in his understanding of warfare and shrewd also in the waging of war; he judged well when to attack and chose the right moment to retreat; he was an expert in ambuscades and a master in pitched battles; and he knew not only how to follow up a victory well, but also how to manage well a defeat. Hence he showed himself a worthy antagonist of the Romans for a long time.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cassius Dio — Epitome of Book 67 |url=https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/67*.html |access-date=2014-08-15 |publisher=Penelope.uchicago.edu}}</ref>}}

Fuscus was replaced by [[Tettius Julianus]]. In 88 Julianus commanded another Roman army under Domitian against the Dacians, defeating them in a battle near Tapae. However, elsewhere in Europe, Domitian was having to deal with revolts along the [[Rhine]], and suffered heavy defeats at the hands of the [[Marcomanni]], and Sarmatian tribes in the east, notably the [[Iazyges]]. Needing the troops in [[Moesia]], Domitian agreed to peace terms with Decebalus. He agreed to pay large sums (eight million [[sesterces]]) in annual tribute to the Dacians for maintaining peace.<ref name="autogenerated150">Brian W. Jones, ''The Emperor Domitian'', (London: Routledge, 1992), p. 150</ref> Decebalus sent his brother [[Diegis]] to Rome to accept a diadem from the Emperor, officially recognising Decebalus's royal status.<ref name="autogenerated150" />