A kingdom of [[Dacia]] was in existence at least as early as the beginning of the 2nd century BC and it reached its maximum extent under [[Burebista]]. The area now constituting Transylvania was the political center of [[Dacia]] where several important fortified cities, among them [[Sarmizegetusa]], near today's [[Hunedoara]] were built.
In 101-102 and 105-106 [[Trajan]], the [[Roman Empire|Roman]] emperor, fought a military campaign against the Dacians, known as the [[Dacian Wars]]. He managed to vanquish them and after the suicide of [[Decebalus]] parts of Dacia were incorporated into the Roman province [[Dacia Trajana]]. The Romans built mines, access roads and forts to protect them. Colonists from other Roman provinces were brought in to settle the land and cities like ''Apulum'' (now [[Alba Iulia]]) and ''Napoca'' (now [[Cluj Napoca]]) appeared. The Dacians rebelled frequently and due to increasing pressure from them and the [[Visigoths]] in 271, the Roman emperor [[Aurelian]] abandoned Dacia Trajana.
