Roman deserters during Trajan Dacian wars

[diegis]

In the Cassius Dio few surviving paragraphs about Trajan wars with Dacians we learn that quite a lot of Romans joined Decebalus army.
Dio - Book 68.9.6

<... and neither to give shelter to any of the deserters nor to employ any soldier from their empire; for he had been acquiring the largest and best part of his force by persuading men to come to him from Roman territory.>

Dio - book 68.11.3:

< Though Decebalus was faring badly in open conflict, nevertheless by craft and deceit he almost compassed Trajan's death. He sent into Moesia some deserters to see if they could make away with him, inasmuch as the emperor was generally accessible and now, on account of the exigencies of warfare, admitted to a conference absolutely everyone who desired it. But they were not able to carry out this plan, since one of them was arrested on suspicion and under torture revealed the entire plot. >

It looks like some of them accepted to do cvasi-suicidal missions at the request of Dacian king, infiltrating in Roman headquarters and trying to assassinate the emperor.
Many others joined the Dacian army, as much as according to Dio formed quite a large part of Decebalus forces (up to few legions, number wise) and made Trajan to ask as peace condition at the end of first war that Dacians to stop receiving and/or employing Roman soldiers.

What could have make so many Roman soldiers to cross in Dacia and join Decebalus army, fighting to the death against their former comrades? And even to accept such dangerous and very complicated missions as assassinating Trajan (kinda kamikaze like in a way as I don't know how they could have planed to do that and then escape unseen or unharmed)?
And how big was the deserting problem in Roman army back then (which is probably the peak of classic Roman imperial army)?

[hellheaven1987]

Many deserters might be auxilias.

[diegis]

Many deserters might be auxilias.

Thats one of the first thing I thought too, Auxiliars of Thracian and south Dacian (south of Danube) origin who decided to fight for their northern brethren and against the empire and their army.
Then I think many there really disliked Rome, if not quite hated very much the empire

[hellheaven1987]

Then I think many there really disliked Rome, if not quite hated very much the empire

They probably were just not happy with half-pay and stationed far away from homeland for years.

[diegis]

They probably were just not happy with half-pay and stationed far away from homeland for years.

Payment may be a reason, but... if they joined the Dacian army (a powerful enemy of Rome) they will probably never hope to go back to their homeland at all. And not just because of the danger of death on the battlefield but I doubt that quite a large number of deserters could have just walk back across the border and live in the empire (right in their home province) as nothing happened, undisturbed by the Romans.
Even if they would have been maybe significantly richer compared with a service in Roman army.

I assume that they either agree to remain in Dacia after those wars (I don't know but I kinda doubt they thought Dacia could free Moesia and Thracia from Roman empire but who knows) either were really pissed off on Rome. As much as accepting cvasi-suicidal missions as infiltrating in Roman camp to assassinate Trajan

[G-Megas-Doux]

To generic a statement, a large part does not qualify as being the largest part. Armies throughout history have had desertion problems, in fact that problem never goes away. I would not hold any opinion on that being a particularly unique problem to Trajan.

[hellheaven1987]

Payment may be a reason, but... if they joined the Dacian army (a powerful enemy of Rome) they will probably never hope to go back to their homeland at all. And not just because of the danger of death on the battlefield but I doubt that quite a large number of deserters could have just walk back across the border and live in the empire (right in their home province) as nothing happened, undisturbed by the Romans.

Uhm why not? Just deserted the Dacian army and went north. Not to mention many perhaps, just like in modern military, whining about how they did not sign up for a tough life and regreted signing the contract.

[Carpathian Wolf]

Uhm why not? Just deserted the Dacian army and went north. Not to mention many perhaps, just like in modern military, whining about how they did not sign up for a tough life and regreted signing the contract.

I don't think you leave the Roman Empire to Dacia in order to have an easy life.

[hellheaven1987]

I don't think you leave the Roman Empire to Dacia in order to have an easy life.

So the most civilians believe, but turn out it was/is not true - otherwise there would be no daily desertion in French Foreign Legion throughout its history, including today.

[Carpathian Wolf]

FFL lacks the sort of context that the Roman Legions did. One is a mercenary company, the other is a standing army for an empire.

But your argument for Legionnaires leaving the army is because life was too hard fighting with the legion and went into the easy life of fighting against it. Hmm...

[G-Megas-Doux]

Deserters rarely change sides for nothing, bribes would be the order of the day. Improved status such as drill instructors, improved finances such as better pay. Having no where to desert to is the most likely cause. Having deserted from the Legion they could not live under the rule of Rome and they would not be allowed to settle inside Dacia without fighting for the Dacians. So the options are greed or poorly thought out decision making process.

[Carpathian Wolf]

Deserters rarely change sides for nothing, bribes would be the order of the day. Improved status such as drill instructors, improved finances such as better pay. Having no where to desert to is the most likely cause. Having deserted from the Legion they could not live under the rule of Rome and they would not be allowed to settle inside Dacia without fighting for the Dacians. So the options are greed or poorly thought out decision making process.

Those are the only two reasons? Can you think of anymore?

[G-Megas-Doux]

Those are the only two reasons? Can you think of anymore?

Nope all reasons other than Greed were bad reasons because there was no where to go and the Romans had clear regulations as to dealing with deserters leaving defecting to be the only reason so if you didn't get a good price you did it for a bad reason as there was no where else to escape to.

[Carpathian Wolf]

Nope all reasons other than Greed were bad reasons because there was no where to go and the Romans had clear regulations as to dealing with deserters leaving defecting to be the only reason so if you didn't get a good price you did it for a bad reason as there was no where else to escape to.

Well "bad" reason is an opinion that has little relevance in the question. You stated that the two main reasons were money or position. I asked you if there were any other and you said "greed and bad reasons."

You have to show your work. Once more, can you think of any other reasons besides money and position?

[Roma_Victrix]

Well "bad" reason is an opinion that has little relevance in the question. You stated that the two main reasons were money or position. I asked you if there were any other and you said "greed and bad reasons."

You have to show your work. Once more, can you think of any other reasons besides money and position?

Well, how about LOTS of money, then. The Dacian kings were reputed to be awash in gold, after all.

[Carpathian Wolf]

The lack of critical thinking is depressing.

[diegis]

The number of those Roman deserters must have been high, Dio said (maybe exaggerating, but still gives an idea about how many they were as seen by Romans) that they had made the largest part of Decebalus army. Considering the most conservative numbers this mean something like at least 3 legions (like making half of Dacian army). If we go to the highest numbers given for Dacian troops we can double that. This is way more then simple few deserters trying to make a better life.

And if we see that some of them accepted even cvasi-suicidal missions given by Decebalus I think most of them must have been Dacians from Moesia and Thracians from south who decided to join their northern brothers in the fight against Rome.

[KEA]

<... and neither to give shelter to any of the deserters nor to employ any soldier from their empire; for he had been acquiring the largest and best part of his force by persuading men to come to him from Roman territory.>

I don't read that as deserters from the Roman army first of all but mostly mercenaries hired from Roman territory (may be Panonnians, Thracians and the like).

[Aermanner]

Where exacly does Cassius Dio speak of how many deserted and/or joined the Dacian army?

[Lord Oda Nobunaga]

The lack of critical thinking is depressing.

Not really sure what else you're looking for.
I dunno maybe a soldier was marked for punishment and ran the hell away.
Maybe he was ordered to go on a highly dangerous mission and decided to take his chances on his own or in a better position with the Dacians than to come back dead.
Maybe he didn't have anything good waiting for him back at home so he took the opportunity to high tail it out of there.

At the end of it all it comes down to two things: roaming the country side as a looter/bandit or finding better employment killing other people. Some idiots choose to run back home where they mostly end up getting caught where as others decide to hide among the local population which is a rather hard life to get used to living with strangers. But for someone who has near starved on a regular basis since they signed up and are no doubt suffering from fatigue, depression, PTSD and other more serious physical ailments you might as well put those skills to good use and kill people for the highest bidder which is what usually happens given the chance. It so happens that some soldiers have made it a profession to constantly defect every time the war goes against one side or whichever side happens to be offering a better deal at a given moment.