Second Battle of Tapae
The Second Battle of Tapae in 88 AD was the decisive battle of Domitian's Dacian War, in which the Roman Emperor defeated the Dacian King Decebalus's army.
After the First Battle of Tapae in 86 AD, one of the most humiliating defeats of the period and in which Rome lost two entire legions, a year of peace followed.
When the war was resumed after a year of preparations, Domitian promoted as new commander in chief, Tettius Julianus who, having crossed the Danube, probably at the legionary fortress of Viminacium, managed in the following autumn to reach the plain of Caransebeș, in front of the Iron Gates, perhaps after a enveloping approach march conducted in several columns, and not without great difficulties due to the continuous attacks of the Dacians.
At Tapae Roman victory at the major Second Battle of Tapae was followed by a massacre of Dacians. Tettius, however, did not march on the enemy capital of Sarmizegetusa Regia as Decebalus managed to halt their advance into enemy territory[1] due perhaps to the difficulty of crossing the Iron Gates in a season close to winter.[2]