The Roman Series: Who was emperor Trajan?

On 18 September 53, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus was born in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica (in what is now Andalusia in modern Spain) near Seville. Trajan was the son of Marcia, a Roman noblewoman and sister-in-law of the second Flavian Emperor Titus. His father was Marcus Ulpius Trajanus the elder. He served under Vespasian in the First Jewish Roman War. 

The army

In 76-77, Trajan's father was governor of Syria, where Trajan himself remained as Tribunus legionis. After his father's replacement, Trajan moved to the Rhine department of the army. However his time in the army remained obscure.

Love and Marriage

Trajan married Pompeia Plotina. This was a happy marriage but the couple didn't have any children together. 

Rise to power

When Nerva became Roman Emperor, he was so unpopular with the army, he felt he had to gain the support of the military in order to avoid being ousted.  He accomplished this in the summer of 97 by naming Trajan as his adoptive  son and successor, based on Trajan's military merits. More about Nerva on this link. 

Roman emperor

On 28 January 98, Trajan became Roman Emperor. On his entry to Rome he grated the plebs a direct gift of money. The traditional donative to the troops was reduced by half. 

On 1 January 100, Trajan exhorted the Senate to share the care-taking of the Empire with him. In reality, Trajan did not share power in any meaningful way with the Senate. 

Trajan was known for his conquest in the Near East. In May 101, Trajan launched his first campaign into the Dacian kingdom, crossing to the northern bank of the Danube and defeating the Dacian army at Tapae. 

By 107, Roman legions were stationed in the area around Petra and Bosrah. At this time a Roman road was built from Aila (now Aqaba) to Bosrah. 

In 107, Trajan devalued the Roman currency. He decreased the silver purity of the Denarius from 93,5% to 89%. The actual silver weight dropping from 3.04 grams to 2.88 grams. 

In 113, Trajan embarked on his last campaign, provoked by Parthia's decision to put a king on the throne of Armenia. Trajan, already in Syria early in 113,  refused to accept diplomatic approaches from the Parthians.  

Building projects

Trajan ordered the building of a massive bridge over the Danube, over which the  Roman army was able to cross the river swiftly and in numbers as well as to send in reinforcements, even in winter when the river was not frozen enough to bear the passage of soldiers. 

Trajan constructed several new buildings, monuments and roads in Italy and in  Spain. Trajan's Column and Trajan's market still stand in Rome today! 

Trajan also hosted a 3-month gladiatorial festival in the great Colosseum in  Rome. 

Death

Early in 117, Trajan grew ill and set out to sail back to Italy. His health  declined throughout the spring and summer of 117. 

Trajan suddenly died on 11 August 117. He was succeeded by his first cousin Hadrian as Emperor. 

Source pictures: Wikipedia