Civitas Tropaensium

[3] In the winter of 101 to 102 during Trajan's First Dacian War, and after the Dacians had crossed the frozen Danube in a counterattack, the Battle of Adamclisi was a major clash fought nearby resulting in a decisive Roman victory, though both sides suffered very heavy casualties.

The Romans built a monumental altar on the hill overlooking the settlement and about 2km east of it in 102 to commemorate the victory.

The city survived until the Avars sacked it in 587[9] when the Avar Hagan, although he had promised peace with the Empire for which he received 100,000 gold coins, violated the treaty and conquered Tropaeum Traiani "through a military action which gave him a lot of work, because the cities did not surrender easily".

In 316 under Constantine and Licinius it was extensively rebuilt with horseshoe-shaped towers and a smaller version (2.9 m high) of Trajan's Trophy added to it, emphasising the lasting importance of the battles won here.

The main street rebuilt at the beginning of the 4th century has a well-preserved central drain for rain and wastewater, unusual for incorporating a step on which was a ceramic pipeline for water supply.