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[[File: Trajan One.jpg|200px250px|thumb|left|A bust of Trajan]] Emperor Trajan (53-117 AD) has traditionally been regarded as one of the greatest Roman Emperors’Emperors (ruled from 98 to 117 AD), but modern historians have argued that his legacy was not wholly mixed. Trajan's reign led to both positiveimpacts on the Roman Empire. This article will discuss the importance While Trajan's foreign invasion of this Emperor Dacia, Arabia, and his impact on Mesopotamia created real benefit to the Empire, Parthia's conquest was ephemeral and wasteful. It will argue  On the domestic side, Trajan was a dynamic administrator, and he did much to reverse some of the abuses that had developed under previous Emperors such as Domitian. Additionally, his domestic policies helped to improve the socio-economic condition in Italy. While Rome benefitted from many of his conquests while not always beneficial and policies, Parthia's invasion almost led to disaster, and his gains were short-lived. After Trajan's death, Hadrian was forced to abandon Parthia.  ==How did Trajan become the Roman Emperor?==[[File: Trajan Two.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left|A relief showing a battle between Romans and Dacians]] Trajan’s reign (98-117 AD) occurred at perhaps one of the greatest eras in Roman History. In the First Century A.D., the economy of Rome had been expanding for many years, and the Empire continued to expand. The period witnessed a cultural renaissance, and many of the great Latin writers wrote their greatest works. Successive Emperors maintained the system that was perfected by Augustus, which was an imperial system that shared power with the Senatorial elite. This system had provided stability to a large part of Europe and the Near East. Marcus Ulpius Traianus was born in what is now modern Spain and was of Italian descent.<ref> Bennett, Julian. Trajan. Optimus Princeps. (Bloomington, Indiana University Press, 2001), p. 18</ref>  His father was a general and governor and was later enrolled in the Senate. Trajan grew up in Rome, and he served with his father in Syria, and he later enjoyed the favor of Emperor Domitian. In 91 AD, he served as consul.<ref>Bennet, p. 34</ref> In 96 AD, Domitian was assassinated in a conspiracy, and Nerva ascended the throne. Trajan was governor of Lower Germany and was in command of several legions, and was an essential power broker in the years after Domitian's death. Nerva, who was advanced in years, adopted him as his son and heir.<ref>Bennet, p 46</ref> ==When did help Emperor Trajan become an Emperor?==[[File: Trajan Four.jpg|250px|thumbnail|left| Petra the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom, today]] In 98 AD, Trajan became Emperor after the death of Nerva. Trajan proved to be an energetic ruler and immediately reduced the influence of the Praetorian Guard.<ref> Mommsen, Theodor A History of Rome Under the Emperors (London: Routledge, 1999), p 113</ref> He secured support by offering donations to strengthen it for the legions and the population of Rome and reduced taxes.  After a series of civil wars that had weakened the Empire, Trajan helped finance many public structures and ordered many decadesaqueducts. He also prohibited wasteful expenditure on festivals. Trajan also initiated a series of social welfare reforms.

==What did Trajan do as Emperor?==Trajan successfully overhauled the administration of the Empire and ended abuses by Senators. His conquest in Daciadomestic policy achievements are impressive, Arabia, and Mesopotamia but his main focus was always on military glory. He abandoned the policy of Augustus of real benefit not seeking to expand the Empire. However<ref>Suetonius, Life of Augustus, his conquests in Parthia were transitory and wastefulxxv</ref> Only Britain was added to the Empire since the First Emperor's death. Trajan was determined to expand Rome’s borders, and for the first time in a dynamic administratorcentury, and he did much to reverse some pursued an active policy of the abuses that had developed under previous Emperors such as Domitian. Moreover, his domestic policies helped to improve the socio-economic condition in Italyconquest.

====Background====[[File: Trajan Two.jpg|200px|thumb|left|A relief showing In modern Romania, a battle between Romans and Dacians]]Trajan’s reign (98-117 AD) occurred at perhaps one powerful confederation of Thracian tribes, the greatest eras Dacians had proven a formidable foe and had defeated Roman governors in Roman Historythe past. In After careful preparations, Trajan invaded Dacia and, in 101-102, reduced the First Century A.DDacian kingdom to vassal status.However, in 105, the economy of Rome had been expanding for many yearsDacians revolted, and Trajan invaded the Empire continued to expand. The period witnessed area and, in a cultural renaissanceseries of bloody campaigns, and many ended the revolt with the capture of the great Latin writers wrote their greatest works at this timecapital Sarmizegethusa (106 AD). Successive Emperors maintained the system that was perfected by Augustus, which Dacian resistance was an imperial system that shared power ended with the Senatorial elitesuicide of their king and chief priest, Decalbus. This system had provided stability to Trajan organized the kingdom into a large part of Europe Roman Province, and he encouraged settlers from all over the Near East. Marcus Ulpius Traianus was born Empire to settle in what is now modern Spain and was of Italian descentthe new territory.<ref> BennettSchmitz, Michael The Dacian Threat, Julian101–106 AD. Trajan. Optimus Princeps. (BloomingtonArmidale, Indiana University PressAustralia: Caeros Pty, 20012005), p134</ref> Trajan was a restless figure, and he seems to have sought to emulate the achievements of Alexander the Great and Julius Caesar. 18<ref> Cassius Dio, Roman History, book 68, xi</ref>

His father was He recruited a general and governor and was later enrolled in large army for the invasion of Parthia, the SenateRomans' greatest enemy. Trajan grew up in RomeFirst, and he served annexed the Nabatean Kingdom with its famous capital of Petra to secure his father flank. The Parthian campaign began in Syria105/106 AD, and he later enjoyed the favor it took place when a series of Emperor Domitian, and in 91 AD he served as consulcivil wars had weakened that Empire.<ref>BennetDespite its problems, pthe Parthians defended their territories fiercely. 34</ref> In 96 AD, Domitian was assassinated in They even placed a conspiracy and Nerva ascended puppet on the throne. Trajan was governor of Lower Germany and was in command of several legions and was a very important power broker Armenia in the years after the death of Domitian. Nerva who was advanced in years adopted him as his son and heir110 AD.<ref>Bennet, p 46101</ref>

====Reign of Trajan====[[File: Trajan Four.jpg|300px|thumb|left| Petra the capital of the Nabatean Kingdomlaunched a ferocious counter-attack, recaptured Armenia, today]]In 98 AD Trajan became Emperor after the death of Nerva. Trajan proved to be an energetic ruler and immediately reduced the influence of the Praetorian Guard.<ref> Mommsen, Theodor A History of Rome Under the Emperors later conquered Northern Mesopotamia (London: Routledge, 1999modern North Iraq), p 113</ref> and organized it. He secured support by offering donations built a road to link the legions and province to the population rest of Rome the Empire, and reduced taxes. Trajan was very much a buildera series of civil wars had weakened that Empireand he helped this allowed his legions to finance many public buildings and ordered the building of many aqueducts and prohibited wasteful expenditure on festivals. He also initiated a series of social welfare reforms. Trajan also overhauled strike deep into the administration heart of the Parthian Empire and ended abuses by Senators. His domestic policy achievements are impressiveIn 115, but he marched his main focus was on military glory. He abandoned army down the policy of AugustusTigris River, and he swiftly captured the Parthian summer capital of not seeking Ctesiphon and advanced down the Tigris to expand the EmpirePersian Gulf.<ref>SuetoniusCassius Dio, Life of Augustus68, xxv17</ref> Only Britain was to the Empire since the death of the first Emperor. Trajan was determined to expand Rome’s borders, and for the first time in a century, he pursued an active policy of conquest.

In He annexed the entire area of modern Romania, a powerful confederation of Thracian tribes, the Dacians had proven a formidable foe Iraq and had defeated Roman governors in incorporated it into the pastEmpire. An anecdote is told that when Trajan after careful preparations invaded Dacia and in 101-102 reduced saw the Dacian kingdom Persian Gulf, he wept because he was too old to conquer the status rest of a vassalthe known world. However In 116, while in 105 Antioch, the Dacians revoltedEmperor nearly died in an earthquake, and Trajan invaded the area and in a series of bloody campaigns ended revolts broke out across the revolt with the capture of the capital Sarmizegethusa (106 AD). Dacian resistance was ended with the suicide of their king and chief priest, Decalbus. Trajan organized the kingdom into a Roman Province, and he encouraged settlers from all over the Empire to settle territories in the new territoryeast.<ref> SchmitzCassius Dio, Michael The Dacian Threat10, 101–106 AD. Armidale, Australia: Caeros Pty, 2005), p 13419</ref> A severe Jewish revolt broke out in several eastern Mediterranean areas. Trajan was a restless figure, ill and old and he seems decided to have sought journey back to emulate the achievements of Alexander the Great Rome, but he died in 116 AD, in Asia Minor. The Emperor had no children and adopted Hadrian, an experienced soldier, and Julius Caesargovernor.<ref> Cassius DioAfter Trajan’s death, Hadrian became ruler of the Roman History, book 68, xi</ref> World.

He recruited ==Why did Trajan want Rome to conquer Dacia?==Dacia's conquest, a large army for powerful military force in the invasion Balkans and a real rival of Parthia, Rome was a significant achievement. The Dacians had been a problem for the Romans greatest enemy. First, he annexed since the Nabatean Kingdom with its famous capital time of Petra to secure his flankJulius Caesar. The Parthian campaign began in 105/106 ADHowever, and it took place at a time when that Empire no Roman Emperor had been weakened by effectively able to contain them. Trajan's conquest from a series military point of civil wars. Despite its problems, the Parthians defended their territories fiercely. They even placed a puppet on view was remarkable as the throne kingdom consisted of Armenia fortified settlements in 110 ADa mountainous region.<ref>BennetCassius Dio, 10, p 10123</ref> It has often been argued that Domitian helped weaken the Dacians before the conquest in 106 AD. The addition of the old Dacian kingdom to the Empire initially strengthened Rome. The gold mines of the area boosted the economy, as did the new lands that were acquired.

Trajan launched a ferocious counter-attack The annexation of the kingdom strengthened the Danube frontier and recaptured Armenia and later conquered Northern Mesopotamia (modern North Iraq) and organized it into a provincesecured the Balkans for decades. He built a road to link However, many argue that the province to the rest conquest of Dacia was ultimately a drain on the Empire. Moreover, and this allowed his over time as the Roman legions weakened, it proved difficult to strike deep into defend. In the heart crisis of the Parthian Empire. In 115 he marched his army down the Tigris River3rd century, and he swiftly captured the Parthian summer capital of Ctesiphon and advanced down the Tigris province was abandoned to the Persian GulfGoths and other tribes.<ref>Cassius Dio, 68Bennet, 17p 189</ref> However, the territory had remained part of the Empire for 150 years, and at least in the first century of Roman rule it brought the empire new revenues and was a bulwark against barbarian incursions.

He annexed the entire area of modern Iraq and incorporated it into the Empire. An anecdote is told that when Trajan saw the Persian Gulf, he wept because he was too old to conquer the rest of the known world. In 116, while in Antioch, the Emperor nearly died in an earthquake and a series of revolts broke out across the Roman territories in the east.<ref>Cassius Dio, 10, 19<dh-ad/ref> A severe Jewish revolt broke out in several areas of the eastern Mediterranean. Trajan was ill and old and decided to journey back to Rome, but he died in 116 AD, in Asia Minor. The Emperor had no children and adopted Hadrian an experienced soldier and governor. After Trajan’s death, Hadrian became ruler of the Roman World.

====Dacia==Why did Trajan's invasion of the Parthian Empire almost fail?==The conquest of Dacia, a powerful military force in the Balkans and a real rival of Rome, was a significant achievement. The Dacians had been a problem for the Romans since the time of Julius Caesar. However, no Roman Emperor had been effectively able to contain them. The conquest of [[File: Trajan from a military point of view was remarkable as the kingdom consisted of fortified settlements in a mountainous regionThree.<ref>Cassius Dio, 10, 23</ref> It has often been argued that Domitian helped to weaken the Dacians before the conquest jpg|200px|thumbnail|left| Trajan’s Column in 106 AD. The addition of the old Dacian kingdom to the Empire initially strengthened Rome. The gold mines of the area boosted the economy as did the new lands that were acquired. The annexation of the kingdom strengthened the Danube frontier and secured the Balkans for decades. However, many argue that the conquest of Dacia was ultimately a drain on the Empire. Moreover, over time as the Roman legions weakened it proved difficult to defend. In the crisis of the 3rd century, the province was abandoned to the Goths and other tribes.<ref>Bennet, p 189</ref> However, the territory had remained part of the Empire for 150 years and at least in the first century of Roman rule it brought the empire new revenues and was a bulwark against barbarian incursions.]]

====Parthia and the East====There had been no serious efforts to conquer large areas of the Parthian Empire since the time of Mark Anthony. Trajan wanted to conquer all or at least part of the Empire. However, it was a vast, sprawling , and diverse polity , and the Romans could never have absorbed it even with their vast resources and capabilities. Trajan had been accused of megalomania because of his ambitions in the east. Despite his capture of Ctesiphon and the annexation of the Parthian Empire's western sections of the Parthian Empire, the Romans never really controlled the majority of the new territories. The campaign in the East overstrained the resources of the Romans. It left the legions in Mesopotamia isolated, and they were on the point of being cut-off when Trajan died.

Furthermore, the Parthia's efforts in Parthia left many areas poorly guarded , which led to Jewish revolts that destabilized the eastern provinces. Roman did not have any meaningful control over this region. Trajan’s campaign fundamentally weakened the Empire in the east. Hadrian was forced to conquer these lands to stave off a complete collapse in the east.

In the longer term, some of the conquests of the Emperor strengthened the Roman East. The Dacia's conqueror of Dacia added two provinces in the east , the Nabatean Kingdom (modern Jordan) and northern Mesopotamia (Northern Iraq). These provinces greatly added to the Empire's revenues of the Empire and also strengthened the Roman strategic position in the region. The province of Mesopotamia meant that Rome could keep Parthia on the defensive. Roman supremacy was not challenged for over a century in the Ancient Near East.

[[File: ==How did Trajan Three.jpg|200px|thumb|left| Trajan’s Column in change the domestic policies of Rome]]====Domestic Policy==?==The Roman Empire was at its zenith during the reign of Trajan. However, he , like the Senate members of the Senate , was worried about the relative decline of Italy. It had not prospered as much as the other Imperial territories. The Italy's population of Italy was falling, and many were worried about the reduced number of Italians who were serving in the legions.<ref>Alston, Richard Aspects of Roman History 31BC-AD117 (Abingdon, Routledge, 2014),p. 115</ref>

Trajan used much of the booty from his conquests on public works in the Italian cities such as Rome. This was to boost the urban economies and to encourage the landed aristocracy to spend more time in cities. Trajan also ordered Senators from the provinces, to own land in Italy. This ensured that the Senatorial elite, irrespective of their origin , had links with Rome and Italy. Trajan also introduced the alimieta, this . This was a charitable scheme, and it . It was a variety of subsidies to local communities.<ref>Alston, p. 118</ref> It involved the regular distribution of money to only the Italian communities. It helped improve the lives of poor Italians, and the alimieta even reduced the number of infanticide instances of infanticide.

Trajan developed this policy to strengthen Italy and the core of the Empire. This ensured that Italians remained preeminent in the Roman Empire. The Emperor’s policy was at least partially successful because it arrested the decline in Italy and it . It was adopted by later Emperors.<ref>Bennet, p 119</ref> Trajan has been criticized for his many wars and , especially for his devaluation of the coinage. This it is believed to set a dangerous precedent for later Emperors ; however, Trajan left his successor Hadrian with a healthy treasury , and the economy was well-managed during his reign.

Trajan was an able administrator and , unlike his predecessors , respected the constitution and the Rome's laws of Rome. Trajan enacted some laws that improved the status of slaves , and it became illegal for masters to abandon old slaves. He forbade the use of informers, and there were no treason trials during his years in power. Trajan did not rule as an autocrat like so many of his predecessors.<ref>Pliny the Younger, Letter 10. 68</ref> It has been stated that he gave the Empire its longest period of stability and good government in its history.<ref>Bennet, p. 10</ref>

====Conclusion==Was Trajan a Good Emperor?==The Emperor Trajan has been acclaimed as a great Emperor , but he was also as an egomaniac who loved war and who . Ultimately his actions seriously undermined the Empire. The truth is that Trajan had many achievements but also some glaring failures. His conquest expanded the Empire and generated new revenues for Rome , and improved its strategic position with regard to concerning its enemies.

However, his adventures in Parthia were costly and could have ended in disaster. Most of his gains had to be relinquished by were lost during Hadrian's reign. Trajan’s domestic policy had some successes , such as his efforts to strengthen Italy and his reform of the penal code concerning slaves. His administration of the Empire was excellent, and the economy thrived under him. Trajan can be regarded as a great Emperor and justifies the acclaim that he received from his fellow Romans in the centuries after his death.

Stadter, Philip A., and Luc Van der Stockt, eds. Sage and emperor: Plutarch, Greek intellectuals, and Roman power in the time of Trajan (98-117 AD). Vol. 29. Leuven University Press, 2002.