Trajan: Emperor of Rome
A campaigning Roman Emperor
Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, who is usually known as Trajan, was born near Seville, Spain, on 18th September 53 AD (although some sources say 52 AD). He was a soldier from an early age, serving for ten years as a military tribune before becoming a praetor in 85 AD. He served with distinction in the Eastern Empire and in Germany. He became a consul in 91 AD and was adopted by the emperor Nerva in 97 AD.
Nerva died in January 98 AD, so Trajan became emperor, the first to have been born outside Italy. He was widely acclaimed and there was no opposition to his succession.
At the time of his accession he was fighting to establish Roman dominance on the Rhine and Danube frontiers, and he continued to do so during the first few months of his reign, including the building of fortifications and roads in the area. When he eventually returned to Rome, in 99 AD, he and his wife entered the city on foot.
However, in March 101 Trajan resumed his campaign on the Danube, where he was determined to make war on the Dacians, led by Decebalus, in what is now Romania and Hungary. Decebalus had compelled Domitian (emperor 81–96) to make peace on humiliating terms, and Trajan wanted to set this right.
The war was in two parts, the first lasting until 103, when Decebalus was defeated…