Trajan - Marcus Ulpius Traianus. Adopted son of Nerva; Son of Trajan Pater; Husband of Plotina; Brother of Marciana; Uncle of Matidia.

Mints: Rome

Biography: Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, governor of Upper Germany, was adopted by the childless and elderly Nerva in October 97 AD and invested with the purple upon the latter's death on January 28 of the following year. He ruled for nineteen years, pushing the frontiers of Rome to their widest extent, establishing a good and responsible administration, and maintaining excellent relationship with the Senate. He restored the road system of Italy, improved the inadequate port system build by Claudius, provided poor relief, especially for children, organized extravagant public games, and was very popular with the troops. Trajan kept them busy with three major wars, two against Dacia, which Trajan annexed in 106 AD, and a spectacular campaign against the Parthians in 114-117, in the course of which Trajan annexed Armenia and Mesopotamia with the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon as well and turned them into Roman provinces. The last several months of his reign were marred by several rebellions which were contained only with difficulty. By early 117 he was afflicted by some circulatory condition, and in August of the same year suffered a stroke which left him partially paralyzed for a few days until he expired on August 9, 117. He had done enough though, for the stern medieval moralist Dante to place him, alone of pre-Christian emperors, in the Paradise.

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