Trajan

Trajan (Latin, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus) (c. 53-117), Roman emperor (98-117), conqueror of Dacia and Mesopotamia. He was born in Italica (near modern Seville, Spain), of a family probably Roman in origin. He was trained as a youth in the Roman army and took an active part in campaigns in Spain, Syria, and Germany during the reigns of the emperors Titus and Domitian. Trajan achieved distinction as a general of outstanding ability, and in 91 he was elected a consul. In 97 he was adopted by Emperor Nerva as his colleague and successor.

On the death of Nerva the following year, Trajan, who was at that time inspecting the Roman frontier in Germany, became the sole ruler of the empire. He did not return to Rome until several years later, however. He celebrated his accession by gratuities to his soldiers and also made provisions for the maintenance of the children of poor freemen in Rome and other Italian cities, thus continuing the system of governmental benevolence initiated by Nerva. In 101 Trajan set out on his first campaign against the Dacians in south-eastern Europe. The struggle was long and fierce, but by 106 the Romans had completely subdued the country, which became the Roman province of Dacia (present-day west central Romania). This conquest was celebrated by a triumph and by games that lasted four months. The famous Trajan's Column in the Forum of Trajan in Rome was erected (c. 106-113) to commemorate the victory.

In 113 the emperor left Italy for his great expedition in the East, directed mainly against the Parthians. Landing in Syria, he annexed Armenia and northern Mesopotamia as Roman provinces, captured Ctesiphon (near Baghdad, in present-day Iraq), the Parthian capital on the River Tigris, and advanced as far as the Persian Gulf. At this point, the recently conquered peoples, taking advantage of the emperor's isolated position, revolted. Trajan, in failing health, set sail for Italy, but died en route at Selinus in the Roman province of Cilicia (in present-day Turkey). He was succeeded as emperor by his nephew Hadrian.

Although the greater part of Trajan's reign was spent in military campaigns, the government of Rome was carefully guided, and several administrative reforms were made. New roads, canals, and bridges were built; the Appian Way was restored; the Pontine Marshes were partly drained; and the magnificent forum of Trajan was erected at Rome. In Italy the harbour of Centum Cellae (modern Civitavecchia) was built, and in the Roman province of Numidia, in north Africa, the city of Timgad was founded.