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Trajan
Trajan: emperor of the Roman world (r. 98-117).
Names:
- 18 September 53: Marcus Ulpius Trajanus Crinitus
- October 97: Imperator caesar Nerva Trajanus
- 28 January 98: Imperator Caesar Nerva Trajanus Augustus
- Germanicus (97), Dacicus (102), Optimus (114), Parthicus (116)
- 7 August 117: natural death
Successor of: Nerva
Relatives
- father: Marcus Ulpius Trajanus
- mother: Marcia
- sister: Ulpia Marciana
- married to: Pompeia Plotina
Early career
- 53 Born in Italica
- c.74/75 Military tribune in Syria
- 78? Quaestor
- 84 Praetor
- 86-89 Commander of VII Gemina
- 91 Consul
- 96 Propraetor of Germania Superior
Main deeds
-
Adamclisi - 98 Consul II (with Nerva); Nerva dies; Trajan recognized as emperor; visits Germania Inferior
- 99 Arrival in Rome
- 100 Consul III (with Sextus Julius Frontinus III); Pliny the Younger consul suffectus; foundation of Thamugadi
- 101 Consul IV (with Quintus Articuleius Paetus); begin of the Dacian War
- 102 First Dacian Triumph
- 103 Consul V (with M' Laberius Maximus II)
- 105 Begin of the Second Dacian War
- 106 Conquest of Dacia, annexation of Petra and the creation of the province Arabia Petraea
- 107 Second Dacian Triumph; debasement of the denarius; monument at Adamclisi
-
Dedication to Trajan, mentioning him "optimus" (Corinth) - 109 Inauguration of the Aqua Traiana and the Baths of Trajan; monument of Adamklisi
- 112 Consul VI (with Titus Sextius Africanus); inauguration of the Forum of Trajan
- 113 Re-inauguation of the Temple of Venus on the Forum of Caesar
- 114 Arrival in Antioch; accepts the title Optimus; beginning of the war against the Parthian Empire; bad omens;note conquest of Armenia; surrender of the Armenian king Parthamasirisnote
- 115 Continued war, now against the Parthian king Osroes I; annexation of Armenia and conquest of Mesopotamia (Edessa and Nisibis)note
- 115/116 survives earthquake in Antioch;note revolt of the Jews
- 116 Continued war; capture of Babylon,note Ctesiphon,note and Seleucia;note spread of Jewish revolt; the situation in the new provinces in the east deteroriates; although Trajan overcomes these troubles, he decides that it is better to give the Parthians a king of their own and appoints Parthamaspates.note
- 117 Death without son or appointed successor; empress Plotina enables Hadrian's succession; Hadrian abandons all conquests east of the Euphrates
New legions: II Traiana Fortis, XXX Ulpia Victrix
Buildings
- Adamclisi: Victory Monument
- Beneventum: Arch of Trajan
- Lepcis Magna: Arch of Trajan
- Rome: Forum of Trajan; Aqua Traiana; Baths of Trajan
- Mérida: Arch of Trajan
Contemporary events
-
Arch of Trajan, Mactaris - 100 Panegyricus of Pliny the Younger
- 101 Epictetus, Discourses; death of Silius Italicus
- 103 Death of Sextus Julius Frontinus
- 110 Death of Ignatius of Antioch
Succeeded by: Hadrian
Links
Coin with Trajan's bridge across the Danube |
Augusta Emerita, the so-called "Arch of Trajan" |
Lepcis Magna, Arch of Trajan |
Salona, Trajan |
Piraeus, Trajan |