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Emperor Trajan (53-117 AD) has traditionally been regarded as one of the greatest Roman Emperors (ruled from 98 to 117 AD), but modern historians have argued that his legacy was mixed. Trajan's reign led to both positive impacts on the Roman Empire. While Trajan's foreign invasion of Dacia, Arabia, and Mesopotamia created real benefit to the Empire, Parthia's conquest was ephemeral and wasteful.

==How did Trajan become the Roman Emperor?==

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>

==When did Emperor Trajan become an Emperor?==

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 the legions and the population of Rome and reduced taxes.

== Why did Trajan's invasion of the Parthian Empire almost fail?==

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, 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.

In the longer term, some of the conquests of the Emperor strengthened the Roman East. Dacia's conqueror 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 and 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.

The Roman Empire was at its zenith during the reign of Trajan. However, he, like the Senate members, was worried about the relative decline of Italy. It had not prospered as much as the other Imperial territories. Italy's population 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 was an able administrator and, unlike his predecessors, respected the constitution and Rome's laws. 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>

Trajan has been acclaimed as a great Emperor, but he was also an egomaniac who loved war. 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 concerning its enemies.