The Dacians regularly raided into Roman territory in
Moesia. The emperors
Tiberius and
Caligula solved this problem by paying protection money to the Dacians in the form of annual subsidies. During the reign of Nero, troops were withdrawn from the Dacian border, leaving the empire vulnerable. When Nero was overthrown in 69, the empire was plunged into turmoil in the
Year of Four Emperors. The Dacians appear to have tried to take advantage of the situation to launch an invasion of Moesia in alliance with the Sarmatian
Roxolani. The invasion was ill-timed.
Licinius Mucianus, a supporter of
Vespasian, was advancing with an army through Moesia towards Rome to overthrow
Vitellius. The Dacians unexpectedly encountered his forces and were pushed back, suffering a major defeat. These events could maybe have coincided with the reign of Scorilo who is, however, not mentioned in the ancient sources on these events. ==References==