Burebista, the greatest king of Dacia, ruled between 70 BC and 44 BC.

He unified the Thracian population from Hercinica (today's Moravia) in the West, to the Bug in the East and from Northern Carpathians to Dionysopolis , choosing his capital (called Argedava or Sargedava ) near Costesti (the Orastie hills - see Dacian Fortresses of the Orastie Mountains).

The real name of Burebista was lost, but his fame was evoked by the Greek writers, known under the name of Byrebistas.

The spiritual center was called Kagaion (the holy mountain) by Strabo, and is thought to be localized somewhere in the Bucegi mountains.

On the south of Danube, the Proconsul of the province of Macedonia, the general Varro Lucullus, during the second Mithridatic War (74 BC–72 BC) occupied the Greek cities on the west coast of the Black Sea from Apollonia to the Danube Delta. The Greek inhabitants of the conquered cities asked Burebista for help and the Roman army of Gaius Antonius Hybrida was defeated near Histria . The Greek cities of Tomis, Calatis , Dionysopolis and Apollonia then agreed to become part of Burebista's kingdom.

Burebista continued his incursion in the region, conquering Aliobrix (Cartal, southern Bessarabia, now part of Ukraine), Tyras and Odessas.

In 48 BC, Burebista interfered with the internal Roman dispute between Julius Caesar and Pompey, choosing the latter as an ally. Three years later, Caesar defeated his adversary and planned on sending legions to punish Burebista, but on March 15 44 BC before the decisive battle, Caesar was assassinated in the Senate.

Soon after, in the same year, Burebista died in unknown circumstances.