From its construction in the middle of the first century B.C., until its conquest by the Romans after the wars from 105-106 A.D., Sarmizegetusa Regia (situated in the Gradistea Muncelului village, in the Orastie Mountains, Hunedoara county) was the heart of the Dacian kingdom, from where the kings exercised their military, economical and religious power.

The name Sarmizegetusa appeared in the works of ancient writers under various spellings: Sarmizge, Sarmireg, Zarmitz, Sarmizege, Sarmazege; no one could explain precisely what the name represented. Some claim to be composed of two lost Dacian words, translated as “high fortress”, an explanation that can be taken into account, considering that Sarmizegetusa Regia was placed on an elevated position, at a height of approximately 1200 m.

During the reign of Burebista, who expanded the borders of the Dacian kingdom beyond those of present Romania, a couple of fortresses were built in the Orastie Mountains and Sarmizegetusa was chosen to be the king’s residence. Some claim that the Dacians’ sacred mountain, Kogaionon, was situated nearby and that was the actual motive why this fortress became more important that the others.

After Burebista’s death in 44 B.C. (the same year Julius Caesar was assassinated), his kingdom lost in vastness, but gradually gained in strength and, in the time of Decebalus (87 – 106 B.C.), it became a real threat for the Roman Empire. Decebalus succeeded in obtaining a favorable peace with emperor Domitianus, but his successor, Trajan, was decided to put an end to the troublesome Dacian kingdom.

Two wars took place (in 101 – 102 and 105 – 106 B.C.) and the Dacians, despite their brave efforts, were defeated. Their main defense system, consisting of the fortresses from Orastie Mountains (Piatra Rosie, Costesti, Blidaru, Capalna, Banita) were conquered step by step and, finally, Sarmizegetusa itself was besieged. The defenders lasted more than a month without food or water, but they were eventually forced to surrender. King Decebalus (whose head can be seen carved in stone at Mraconia, near Orsova) tried to escape, but he was pursued by Roman cavalry who surrounded him, so he took his own life. The story of these confrontations between Dacians and Romans is depicted on Trajan’s column, in Rome (replicas of the carvings can be seen at the National History Museum in Bucharest).

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