Who is Trajan?
Historically known as “Optimus Princeps”, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus was born in September of 53 CE. Trajan gained his ultimate title of the best emperor of Rome after his numerous achievements during his 19 years of rule. This blog post will mostly discuss Trajan’s personal life, the victory of the Dacian wars, and the impact on Roman civilization.
The son of former Roman senator and general, Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, was born outside of the Roman city walls. Forming an academic argument if the former emperor was actually Roman or otherwise. Trajan over the course of time grew up and became enlisted in the Roman military. After doing well and moving up the ranks, the Roman emperor, Nerva adopted Trajan as his heir. “Your filial piety, most sacred emperor, prompted your desire to succeed your father as late as possible, but the immortal gods have hastened to bring your talents to the guidance of the state has fallen to your care” (Firth, Pliny the Younger, Book 10). After Nerva passed, Trajan became emperor and continued to lead the city to victorious heights.
The Dacian war consisted of the domination of Dacia, the current territory of Romania. Over the six years of both wars, Rome ultimately reined victorious. However, the pathway to the domination of Dacia was not easy. Decebalus, the last king of Dacia, sustained resistance against Rome and refused to surrender. “But since he could not be persuaded to surrender both his arms and himself, he proceeded openly to collect troops and summon the surrounding nations to his aid” (Dio, 1925, p 381). The first war was caused by insufficient stability from the Roman government and the need for financial security. Causing an evasion of Dacia for their natural resources and expansion of the empire. The second war led to resistance from Decebalus against the Roman army. Although greatly outnumbered, Decebalus ended the war with the act of suicide than submission to Rome.
Conversely, Trajan was known for his victorious wars his impact on Roman civilization was forever altered. His expansion of the Roman Empire provided settlement for Roman citizens outside of the city and country walls. In honor of Trajan’s impact and triumph during his reign, “Trajan’s Column” was built as a memorial. Made from fine-grained Luna marble and about 98 feet into the sky, the story of the Dacian Wars is depicted. “The Trajanis project was funded by the rich spoils Trajan bought to Rome as booty from the Dacian Wars” (Ulrich, 2017). The columns are one of the best-preserved monuments from Rome and continue to bring new learners about its history every day.
As time passed, Trajan grew old and eventually passed. In line through adoption of the throne after his predecessor Nerva, he adopted Hadrian as his heir to inevitably replace him on the throne. 300 years prior to the fall of Rome, Hadrian continued Trajan’s dynasty. The line of the “good emperors” started with Nerva and was adopted through his successors. Overall, Trajan has endured the pressures of being emperor of a growing nation and using a moral code to provide the best environment for the citizens that live within his governance.
References
Dio, C. (1925). Roman History (3rd ed., pp. 361-423). Loeb Classical Library Edition.
https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/e/roman/texts/cassius_dio/68*.html
Firth, J. B. (n.d.). Pliny the Younger: Letters. Attalus. Retrieved May 1, 2023, from
https://www.attalus.org/old/pliny10a.html
Leoncini, L. Trajan [Marcus Ulpius Trajanus], Emperor. Grove Art Online. Retrieved 27 Apr.
Ulrich, R. B. (2017, February 14). Dacian Wars: Cassius Dio. Trajan’s Column in Rome.
Retrieved May 2, 2023, from http://www.trajans-column.org/?page_id=41
Wheeler, E. L. (2010). Rome’s Dacian Wars: Domitian, Trajan, and Strategy on the Danube, Part
I*. The Journal of Military History, 74(4), 1185-1227. https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/romes-dacian-wars-domitian-trajan-strategy-on/docview/759144473/se-2
