Problem n. 2 : Deldo's raid.
There is a story in Dio Cassius which is worth reviewing. I haven't read previous commentaries on this (no doubt there are many) so I apologize if my take will simply repeat someone else's (even in part).
This story is in Book 51, chapters 23-25 of Dio's History. It deals with the Roman conquest of Moesia in 29-28 BCE (by the grandson of triumvir Marcus Crassus). The story is of course basically told from the Roman angle, so one has to be careful as to Dio's choice of words. Here is what I made of it:
Shortly before the spring of 29 BCE (perhaps even in the previous year) a large group of Bastarnae, accompanied by spouses and children, crossed the Danube (probably in the area southwest of Peuke). They were led by King Deldo. Here is Dio's account: The Bastarnae, he writes,
"had at this time crossed the Ister and subdued the part of Moesia opposite them, and afterwards subdued the Triballi who adjoin this district and the Dardani who inhabit the Triballian country. And as long as they were thus engaged, they had no trouble with the Romans; but when they crossed Haemus and overran the part of Thrace belonging to the Dentheleti, which was under treaty with the Romans, then Crassus, partly to defend Sitas, king of the Dentheleti, who was blind, but chiefly out of fear for Macedonia, went out to meet them. By his mere approach he threw them into a panic and drove them from the country without a battle."
Having read and reread the whole story I would interpret the word "subdued" as merely intimating the fact that the Bastarnae asked for right of passage "or else" and got it. It was not a question of imperial expansion They were "on their way" and would not be stopped (not by the Moesians etc.. at any rate). The Dentheleti didn't care for these guests and sent word to their protectors. When Deldo &co. heard that the Romans were coming they probably decided to turn back (it obviously wasn't a question of Crassus (who's he?) but of Roman power known and strongly feared.) Dio goes on:
"Next he pursued them as they were retiring homeward
****GK: So the trek was being abandoned because Deldo didn't think it was good to confront the Romans.***
, gained possession of the region called Segetica, and invading Moesia, ravaged the country and made an assault upon one of the strongholds.
*****GK: Crassus drops the mask and, forgetting the Bastarnae, assaults the Moesians...
Then, although his advance line met with a repulse when the Moesians, thinking it an isolated force, made a sortie, nevertheless, when he reinforced it with his whole remaining army, he hurled the enemy back and besieged and destroyed the place. While he was accomplishing this, the Bastarnae checked their flight and halted near the Cedrus
river to observe what would take place."
****GK: Cedrus (Tsibritsa) in northwest Bulgaria, the boundary of Triballia and Illyrian country. Deldo was surprised by Rome's so openly showing its imperial hand, and thought this might present an opportunity Not to return home after all.*****
Dio continues:
"And when, after conquering the Moesians, Crassus set out against them also, they sent envoys bidding him not to pursue them, since they had done the Romans no harm.
****GK: This again (after multiple reads of the whole) suggests to me that the ultimate intention of Deldo was to settle an area of the Balkans where he need not confront the Romans, and that the way through Dentheletia was simply a convenient route to this area...
Dio and the Bastarnian disaster:
"Crassus detained the envoys, on the plea that he would give them their answer the following day, treated them kindly in various ways, and made them drunk, so that he learned all their plans; for the whole Scythian race is insatiable in their use of wine and quietly becomes sodden with it. Meanwhile Crassus moved forward into a forest during the night, stationed scouts in front of it, and halted his army
p71there. Then, when the Bastarnae, in the belief that the scouts were all alone, rushed to attack them and pursued them as they retreated into the thick of the forest, he destroyed many of them on the spot and many others in the rout which followed. For not only were they hindered by their waggons, which were in the rear, but their desire to save their wives and their children was also instrumental in their defeat. Crassus himself slew their king Deldo and would have
dedicated his armour as
spolia opima to Jupiter Feretrius had he been general in supreme command. Such was the nature of this engagement. As for the remainder of the Bastarnae, some perished by taking refuge in a grove, which was then set on fire on all sides, and others by rushing into a fort, in which they were annihilated; still others were destroyed by leaping into the Ister, or as they were scattered here and there through the country. But some survived even so and seized a strong position, where Crassus besieged them in vain for several days. Then with the aid of Roles, king of a tribe of the Getae, he destroyed them. Now Roles, when he visited Caesar, was treated as his friend and ally because of this service; and the captives were distributed among the soldiers. "
*****GK: So much for Deldo. But the story doesn't end there. There's quite interesting stuff to come, despite Dio's little twists and covers up. Wait with patience...
On with Dio:
"After accomplishing this task Crassus turned his attention to the Moesians; and partly by persuasion in some cases, partly by terrifying them, partly also by applying force, he subdued all except a very few, though only after great hardships and dangers."
****GK: The real point of it all...*****
Dio continues:
"And for the time being, since it was winter, he retired into friendly territory, after suffering greatly from the cold and much more still at the hands of the Thracians, through whose country he was returning in the belief that it was friendly. Hence he decided to be content with what he had already accomplished. For sacrifices and a triumph had been voted, not only to Caesar, but to him also; nevertheless, he did not receive the title of imperator, as some report, but Caesar alone assumed it.|"
*****GK: "Friendly territory" sounds like Macedonia. There is now a lull during the winter of 29-28.****
And now the really interesting part, which puts all of the preceding into perspective:
Dio:
"The Bastarnae, now, angered at their disasters and learning that he would make no further campaigns against them, turned again upon the Dentheleti and Sitas, whom they regarded as having been the chief cause of their evils. Thus it came about that Crassus reluctantly took the field; and falling upon them unexpectedly after advancing by forced marches, he conquered them and imposed such terms of peace as he pleased."
*****GK: My interpretation of Dio's statements. (1) "learning that he would make no further campaigns against them, "== in fact Crassus made no further campaigns against them... (2) "turned again upon the Dentheleti and Sitas" == there was no problem in the new Bastarnian force crossing the Danube and taking the same route as Deldo. No point in naming the leader: why glorify someone you can't triumph over? (:=)) (3) "whom they regarded as having been the chief cause of their evils"== If Sitas had allowed them to pass through instead of complaining to Crassus, the original plan would have succeeded. (4) "Thus it came about that Crassus reluctantly took the field; and falling upon them unexpectedly after advancing by forced marches, he conquered them"=== Crassus sent word that he was willing to negotiate. The Bastarnae agreed. He came and they talked. They agreed not to harm Sitas. And finally: (5) Crassus "imposed such terms of
peace as he pleased"== He agreed that Rome would not contest the Bastarnae's settling where they intended to settle...
Dio next writes about Crassus' exploits in Moesia and Thrace. The Zyraxes episode deserves separate treatment (next installment).
But the mystery remains. Where did they want to go, and what happened to them afterwards? Also: which Bastarnian group undertook the trek?
(to be continued)