Campaigns Illyria, Dacia and Cisalpine Gaul, 202-199BC

Illyria and Dacia

Tiberius Claudius Pulcher marched out in the winter of 202BC on a punitive expedition into Dacian lands. He encountered two raiding parties at a river crossing.



His extraordinarii led the way, forcing the crossing.



The crossing taken, the raiders were summarily dealt with.



Meanwhile his quaestor, left behind with the garrison of Segestica, took upon an opportunity to thwart another Getic band.



It was a confused fight in the forested hills, but the leader of the warband was slain.



Part of the battle took place in a clearing at the edge of the forest.




With his death the band dissolved, Orata taking no chances and riding them all down.



Encamped in Getic lands waiting to cross another river, Pulcher was attacked by more of the Getai.



His superior numbers and holding the bridge crushed the barbarians.



A larger force tried the same later in the day.



Their leader was slain in the fighting.



And once again the Getai were beaten.



Cisalpine Gaul

In 201, the proconsul Decimus Claudius was one of three magistrates taking part in the campaign to re-conquer and pacify Cisalpine Gaul. He encountered a Gallic band just west of Bononia.



Despite the difficulties created by the thick forest cover, the Gauls were driven off.



Dacia

In a rapid campaign, Tiberius Pulcher had invested and sacked the Getai capital, Singidunum. He moved swiftly on to attack nearby Naissos, provoking a battle.



Both Getic chiefs fell in the battle.





Naissos was sacked and the Getai were made to sign treaties of friendship and pay tribute. Pulcher began the long march back to Illyria.



Cisalpine Gaul

In 199BC, having re-taken Mediolanium, Decimus Pulcher left both his legate and the army to join another consular army returning from Illyria. His cousin Tiberius Pulcher left the same army to return to Rome to celebrate a triumph, and Decimus took that force to invest Patavium. The Gauls had the advantage in numbers, but they were evenly matched in morale.



The battle took place on the edge of a forest clearing.



Fighting was fierce.



But the Roman's superior discipline and greater frequency of armour decided the day.



The survivors of the battle fled to Patavium where Pulcher followed.