Located near the village of Adamclisi, 60 km from Constanța, the monument has a controversial origin, some dating it before our era, others placing it in the 4th century, during the reign of Emperor Constantine.
Recent research has led to the conclusion that the monument was built around the year 109, around the same time as Trajan's Column in the Roman Forum.
The Daco-Roman Wars and Trajan's victory followed by the conquest of Dacia was considered the most important battle and was celebrated with great pomp in Rome. Following this war, the Roman Empire reached the peak of its power, being the only war after which all the great monuments were built:
Trajan's Column in the Roman Forum and Tropaeum Traiani in Adamclisi.
But what battle took place on the set at Adamclisi?
In the winter of 101-102, during the first war, Decebal concluded an agreement with some northern tribes, including the Sarmatians and the Dacians of Costabaci. They were to cross the Dobrogea and occupy the Şipca pass in the Balkans to cut off the supplies of the Roman Legions stationed in southern Dacia.
The winter of 101 - 102 was very mild, so that Trajan was able to transport his army on the Danube, and the Sarmatian cavalry crossed the Danube from Hârșova with difficulty, suffering great losses.
The 2 armies met on the plateau of Adamclisi, the Romanians claiming a significant victory. The monument was discovered by Grigore Tocilescu in 1882 and was reconstructed in 1977. It is 39 m high and has a base diameter of 38 m.
On the outer walls are 54 metapes of 1.48/1.49 m, depicting war scenes. The triumphal ensemble at Adamclisi was much larger. Next to it is a funerary altar in which were engraved the names of 3800 Roman soldiers who fell in battle.
There is also a mausoleum consisting of 3 concentric walls where the commander who decided the fate of the battle with his life was buried. 2 km west of the monument you can visit the citadel, the basilica, the necropolis, the citadel baths and the extramural dwellings.
The TROPAEUM TRAIANI fortress dates from the year 170 and was a very important urban center. In the 12th-13th centuries, it was the seat of one of the 5 bishoprics in Dobrogea.
