[12] The use of separate "columns" evidently served to divide the enemy forces at strategic points, with a tactical outflanking maneouvre which was also used during Trajan's Parthian campaign of 115, with a simultaneous advance along the Tigris and the Euphrates.

He slowly made his way into Dacia and after reaching Tibiscum apparently without having sustained any major battles, he camped there waiting to attack the Dacian forts near the mouth of the Iron Gates.

The clash, as also illustrated on the Column,[13] was favourable to the Romans but at the cost of great bloodshed,[14] although it was not decisive since Decebalus was able to establish himself within his forts in the area of Orăștie, ready to block access to the capital Sarmizegetusa Regia.

The two armies crossed the river but, despite achieving some initial success, they were kept at bay by the then governor and skilled general, Manius Laberius Maximus, who also managed to capture the sister of the Dacian king, also illustrated the column.

The first "column" crossed the Danube perhaps at Oescus, continued along the Aluta valley until reaching the sufficiently large and accessible pass of the Red Tower.

Decebalus, shaken by his second defeat and above all by the simultaneous advance along three fronts in a "pincer maneouvre" which saw the imperial troops take possession of numerous Dacian fortresses, increasingly closer to the capital, sent two embassies to the Roman emperor, each with a plea for peace.

[21] Following the meeting, the emperor's chief of staff, Lucius Licinius Sura, was sent along with the praetorian prefect, Tiberius Claudius Livianus, to discuss the terms of the possible peace treaty.

This scene is also well depicted on the Column: the ambassadors sent by the Dacian king, once they entered Trajan's military camp (perhaps located near the city of Aquae), prostrate themselves at the feet of the Roman emperor imploring the cessation of hostilities.

Here he obtained the deserved triumph and assumed the title of Dacicus from the end of December, while the coins minted at the time celebrate the Dacia victa.

[28] Once Dacia was secured, Decebalus received technical and military reinforcement from Trajan in order to create a powerful allied zone against the dangerous possible expeditions from the northern and eastern territories by the already moving migrator people.