Trajan (AD 52–117)

Roman citizens salute Roman Emperor Trajan in a replica relief from Trajan's Column from AD 113. The 30 m/98 ft column stands in Trajan's Forum in Rome, Italy.

Roman emperor from AD 98. He conquered Dacia (Romania) in 101–07 and much of Parthia in 113–17, bringing the empire to its greatest extent.

Born in Seville, Spain, he was adopted as heir by the Roman emperor Nerva, whom he succeeded in AD 98. He was a just and conscientious ruler, earning the title Optimus Princeps, the best of emperors. Trajan's Column, erected in the Forum he constructed, commemorates his Dacian victories.

Trajan established his military reputation as governor of Germany under Nerva, continuing the Flavian policy of consolidating the frontiers in this area with defences on high ground to the east of the Rhine. Despite his adoption and subsequent ascent to the throne, Trajan remained in the northern provinces for some months, firmly establishing his position with the armies of the area, before returning to Rome. He was not there long, however, before planning a campaign against the Dacians and their hostile king Decebalus. Two Dacian Wars were fought and each time Trajan led his army in person. He wrote commentaries on the campaigns, which did not survive, and created another impressive record of the wars, Trajan's Column. The figure of the emperor features regularly on the Column, prominently displayed and indicating the good relationship he had developed with his soldiers.

In 106 the kingdom of Arabia was annexed, and in 114 relations with Parthia deteriorated after disagreement over control of Armenia. Rome and Parthia had experienced relatively peaceful relations since the treaty arranged by Corbulo under Nero, but Trajan, possibly eager for further expansion, refused Parthian diplomacy. Between 115–16 he created the provinces of Armenia and Mesopotamia, captured the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon, about 100 km/60 mi above Babylon, and reached the Gulf. His conquests were not properly consolidated, however, and he was forced to return to deal with Jewish revolts. Trajan planned to return to Italy but died at Antioch, in southern Turkey, in 117. Although his Dacian province survived until the late 3rd century, most of the eastern provinces he established were quickly abandoned by his successor, Hadrian. Trajan had overstretched the resources of the empire, but his memory remained popular with Senate and army alike.