Trajan

Trajan
Emperor of the Roman Empire
Marble bust of Trajan.
Reign	27 to 28 January 98 — 9 August 117 (19 years, 193 days)
Predecessor	Nerva
Successor	Hadrian
Born	(53-09-18)18 September 53 Italica, ancient Hispania
Died	9 August 117(117-08-09) (aged 63) Selinus, Cilicia
Burial	Rome
Wife	Pompeia Plotina
Issue	Hadrian (adoptive)
Full name Marcus Ulpius Traianus (from birth to adoption); Caesar Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus (from adoption to accession); Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae filius Nerva Traianus Optimus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Parthicus (as emperor)
Dynasty	Nervan-Antonine
Father	Marcus Ulpius Traianus
Mother	Marcia

Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, 18 September 53 – 9 August 117) was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117.

Born in the province of Hispania Baetica into an Italic family, Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian.^[1] Serving as a general in the Roman army along the German frontier, Trajan successfully put down the revolt of Antonius Saturninus in 89.

In September 96, Domitian was succeeded by Nerva, an old and childless senator who proved to be unpopular with the army. After a brief and tumultuous year in power, a revolt by members of the Praetorian Guard compelled him to adopt the more popular Trajan as his heir and successor. Nerva died on 27 January 98, and was succeeded by Trajan without incident.

1. ↑ Julian Bennett, Trajan: Optimus Princeps, 2nd Edition, Routledge 2000, 12.