History of TRAJANO, Roman Emperor

Out of all emperors who ruled in Rome possibly one of the best known for his great deeds was Trajan. This emperor was the first of Hispanic origin, who achieved the greatest expansion of the entire empire and was even elected by the Senate as the best ruler of Rome. To talk about the life of one of the most important people in ancient history in this lesson from a PROFESSOR we are going to talk about the Roman Emperor Trajan story.

Within themost important Roman emperors we must mention Trajan. Marco Ulpio Trajano was born on September 18, AD 53. C. in the city of Itálica, in the province of Baetica. Currently this city is Santiponce, a municipality in the province of Seville. We are not sure of the origin of his family, since while some texts speak of him as a native of Hispania other sources speak of his Italian family on his mother's side. The Ulpios do know that they had a great influence in Rome, being relevant both before and after Trajan, his father being an influential senator in the Vespasian stage.

In Trajan's youth the dynasty that held the imperial office were the Flavios, his father being a faithful follower of this dynasty. Trajan's father held important positions on the Roman frontiers, and was even appointed governor of Syria. Trajan followed his father and it was in Syria that he had the command of a legion for the first time, when he was just over 20 years old.

Trajan's trajectory was meteoric, rapidly ascending in the cursus honorum, passing in a very short time through the Quaestor, Praetor and Legacy Offices. His knowledge of the Roman borders, through his travels with his father, led him to be appointed military tribune in Syria and legacy in the Legion VII Gemina, being in this last position when he defeated the revolt caused by Lucio Antonio Saturnino and all the eyes of Rome were placed on this promising leader of Hispanic origin.

After that he was consul and shortly after he was given the position of Governor of Lower Germania. This area was known as one of the worst in the entire Empire, as the border along the Rhine River was full of possible attacks by Germanic peoples. It was in this period that Trajan came to be considered one of the greatest generals of Rome, since It was said of him that the Germanic peoples would have crossed the border decades ago if it had not been for he.

During his stay in Lower Germania, Emperor Domitian was assassinated and his post passed to Nerva, an elderly senator with no significant military background. Just a year later, and under pressure from the Praetorian Guard, Emperor Nerva appointed Trajan his successor to the position of emperor. Shortly afterwards Nerva died of his advanced age and the position passed to Trajan.

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Trajan was appointed emperor on January 27, 98 but it would take him two years to go to Rome. During this time, Trajan stayed in the German city of Cologne by improving roads and walls, since he considered it essential to leave the border fully protected before marching towards Rome.

His arrival in Rome was well regarded by Roman citizens, especially since undid part of Domitian's work, ending the violence, freeing people unjustly imprisoned by Domitian, and returning much of the capital stolen by the former emperor.

Senators worshiped Trajan, who in a short time had placed leading senators as governors of the provinces, and ended much of the corruption that had been born in the previous reigns imperial.

Even if he was one of the best administrators in Roman history, His main field was always the military, the expansion of Rome being key during his rule. His first war was against the Dacians, being a people that inhabited the area that is currently Romania. Trajan conquered Thrace and Dacia in a few years, achieving a great expansion of the empire.

On the other hand Trajan also got a great expansion to the East, occupying part of present-day Saudi Arabia and Jordan. Expansion in this area was key since Trajan got the entire Mediterranean to be in Roman hands, being called the Mare Nostrum sea for this and achieving total control of an area that Rome had wanted to take for centuries completely.

Contributions of Trajan as emperor of Rome

After these conquests, Trajan spent a few years in peace, ruling Rome calmly and building a large number of monuments. His works, almost all of them built by his faithful friend, the architect Apollodorus of Damascus, served to highlight many of the victories achieved along the way. throughout his trajectory, being especially known the Column of Trajan, the Alcantara Bridge and constructions in Rome itself such as the Forum of Trajan.

Among his administrative reforms in times of peace we can highlight a wellness program created to help orphaned children, laws to protect small crops, the secret ballot or the protection of settlers who came from outside Rome. Regarding the administration of him we can see that Trajan had thoughts that many other states would not create until many centuries later.

Trajan, chasing his hero's dreams Julius Caesar, started a military campaign against the powerful Parthians. At first the Romans achieved great victories, annexed to the Mesopotamian empire, Armenia and Assyria. It is said that Trajan's dream was to follow in the footsteps of Alexander the Great, and take Rome to India, but his advanced age made that action impossible.

After falling ill, Trajan returned to Rome but died halfway in the city of Cilicia. His successor was Hadrian, and Rome was never as huge as it had been in Trajan's last days.

To finish this lesson on the history of Roman Emperor Trajan, we must talk about his legacy. Some of the main elements of his legacy are as follows:

• He is one of the few rulers in history whose reputation has never been stained.
• She was elected by the senators as the best emperor, being respected by the people and senators.
• It was key to the major historical extension of the Roman Empire, although after his rule everything began to diminish.
• When an emperor came to power the Senate uttered a loud wish that he be better than Trajan.
• His support for Christianity, since although he was not a believer of that religion if he asked that the persecutions be reduced, he made him be worshiped by the Christians.
• Their social reforms they were way ahead of his time.
• Its constructions are some of the most beloved works of the Roman art.

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