Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus was born on September 18, 53 and died on August 9, 117, Roman Emperor (98Ð'-117), commonly called Trajan, was the second of the Five Good Emperors of the Roman Empire. The five good emperors heightened the overall Roman Empire. Trajan was born into a prominent political family. He was the son of Marci and Marcus Ulpius Traianus, a prominent senator and general. In the mid 70's, Trajan's father was Governor of Syria , where Trajan himself remained as Tribunus legions. Trajan was nominated as Consul and brought Apollodorus with him to Rome around the early 90's. It was the potental Emperor Hadrian who brought word to Trajan of his adoption, and thus had Trajan's favor for the rest of his life. When Nerva died on January 27, 98, the highly respected Trajan succeeded without incident, making him the first non-Italian Roman to become Emperor.

Trajan's was also a very successful army commander; Trajan's army advanced further into Dacian territory and forced a king to submit to him a year later, after Trajan took the Dacian capital. Trajan then returned to Rome in triumph and victory and was granted the name Dacicus Maximus. Trajan built a new city, on another site than the previous Dacian Capital, although bearing the same full name, Sarmizegethusa. He resettled Dacia with Romans and take over it as a province of the Roman Empire. Trajan's Dacian campaigns benefited the Empire's finances through the acquisition of Dacia's gold mines.

Trajan marched first on Armena, deposed the king and annexed it to the Roman Empire. Never again would the Roman Empire advance so far to the east. Trajan was forced to withdraw his army in order to put down the revolts. Late in 110s, Trajan grew ill and set out to sail back to Italy.

Trajan will remember as one of the greatest emperors better, from then on all emperors were compared to Trajan. Trajan was considered the epitome of an emperor. Unlike many rulers in history, Trajan's reputation has survived undiminished for nearly nineteen centuries. Theologians, such as Thomas Aquinas, discussed Trajan as an example of a virtuous pagan.

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