description Emperor Trajan Overview
Trajan was Roman emperor from 98 to 117 CE and the second ruler conventionally included among the Nerva-Antonine emperors. His campaigns resulted in the annexation of Dacia and territories in Arabia, Armenia, and Mesopotamia, bringing the Roman Empire to its greatest territorial extent, although some eastern gains were short-lived. Trajan's Column in Rome commemorates the Dacian Wars through a continuous spiral relief depicting military operations and imperial ceremony.
insights Ranking position
Emperor Trajan ranks #11 of 221 in the Monarch ranking, behind Sultan Suleiman I the Magnificent, ahead of Emperor Meiji.
help Emperor Trajan FAQ
Why did Trajan invade Dacia?
Trajan fought two major wars against the Dacian king Decebalus, ending with Roman annexation in 106 CE. The conquest secured territory north of the Danube and gave Rome access to valuable resources, including Dacian gold.
What story is shown on Trajan's Column?
The spiral relief narrates episodes from Trajan's Dacian campaigns, including marches, fort construction, battles, and diplomatic scenes. The column still stands in Trajan's Forum in Rome.
How large did the Roman Empire become under Trajan?
Trajan's eastern campaigns brought Armenia and parts of Mesopotamia under Roman control, while Dacia and Arabia had already been annexed. Rome reached its greatest territorial extent during his reign, although Hadrian soon abandoned some eastern conquests.
Why did Trajan correspond with Pliny the Younger?
Pliny governed Bithynia-Pontus and wrote to Trajan about legal, financial, and administrative problems. Their surviving correspondence includes Trajan's influential response on how officials should handle accusations against Christians.
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