Deccan
a term, rather of historical interest than of actual use, applied sometimes to the whole peninsula of Hindustan to the S. of the Vindhya Mountains, which separate it from the basin of the Ganges; and sometimes restricted to that portion of the same which is rather vaguely bounded on the N. by the Nerbudda, which falls into the Gulf of Cambay, and on the S. by the Kistna or Krishna, a tributary of the Bay of Bengal.
DECEBALUS (de-seb'a-lus), the name of several Dacian kings, or perhaps a general title of honor borne by them.
One of them distinguished himself by his opposition to the Roman arms during the reigns of Domitian and Trajan. He entered the province of Mesia, defeated and killed Appius Sabinus, the Roman governor, and captured many important towns and fortresses. Domitian agreed to pay him a yearly tribute, which was continued by Nerva, but refused by Trajan, who subdued Dacia, and Decebalus, to escape falling into the hands of the victors, committed suicide.