POIANA, Romania (AP) — History buffs dressed as Roman soldiers and Dacian warriors clashed in front of a crowd in a reenactment of a struggle culminating in the Roman conquest of land in present-day Romania.
Constantin “The Castor” Lapusneanu, a well-known Romanian tattoo artist and the man behind the Getodava historical reenactment festival, told The Associated Press that he was motivated by a “love of our ancient land and ancestors” and a desire to transmit that heritage to future generations.
The event in northeastern Romania drew historical reenactment groups from elsewhere in Central Europe including Slovakia and the Czech Republic.
A man wearing a Dacian warrior outfits speaks to Romanian gendarmes in Iasi, Romania, Friday, July 11, 2025 ahead of the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Constantin “The Castor” Lapusneanu, wearing a Dacian warrior outfit, clenches his fist as a man takes a selfie photograph in Iasi, Romania, Friday, July 11, 2025 ahead of the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A baby sits in a stroller behind men wearing Roman soldiers outfits in Iasi, Romania, Friday, July 11, 2025 ahead of the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A man wearing a Dacian spiritual leader outfit stands on the steps of a Getic fortress replica in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025 during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Ondrej Kohut, left, of the Legio X Gemina Coh II, Roman era military historical group with members from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, has his Roman soldier outfit adjusted by colleague Ludovic Kohut in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
A man of the Legio X Gemina Coh II, Roman era military historical group with members from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, stands behind a tent in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Andrej Miklanek of the Legio X Gemina Coh II, Roman era military historical group with members from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, strikes a pose in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Andrei Tase poses for a portrait, wearing a Roman soldier outfit, in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Roman soldier outfits, prepare to demonstrate Roman era warfare tactics in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Constantin “The Castor” Lapusneanu, wearing a Dacian warrior outfit waves a sword in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
People watch as members of historical reenactment groups wearing Roman soldier outfits, demonstrate Roman era warfare tactics in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical groups wearing Roman soldiers and Dacian warriors outfits, reenact a battle in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior outfits, try to repel an attack by Roman empire soldiers in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior and Roman soldiers outfits, clash in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior and Roman soldiers outfits, clash in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior and Roman soldiers outfits, clash in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior outfits, scream before a battle in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People watch as members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior and Roman soldiers outfits, clash in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
Members of historical reenactment groups wearing Dacian warrior outfits, wave their weapons in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda)
Andrej Miklanek of the Legio X Gemina Coh II, Roman era military historical group with members from the Czech Republic and Slovakia, kisses Valeria Terezia Danciakova after posing for a photograph in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
A child walks holding a replica of a battle axe in Poiana, Romania, Sunday, July 13, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People cast shadows on a Romanian flag they unfurled in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
People are silhouetted by the setting sun as they walk around a replica of a Getic fortress in Poiana, Romania, Saturday, July 12, 2025, during the Getodava historical reenactment festival. (AP Photo/Andreea Alexandru)
The reimagined battles took place in Poiana, a village outside the city of Iasi, near the border with Moldova, where Lapusneanu built a replica of an ancient fortress known as a Getic fortress.
Though it is well known the Romans emerged victorious in the battles nearly 2,000 years ago, the reenactment this summer ended in a draw.
Participants explained they simply want to focus on how the battles were fought.