Trajano

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus (18 September 53 – 9 August 117), commonly known as Trajan, was Roman Emperor.
He was born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica ( Andalusia, Spain ), in the city called Italica.

Trajano, Adriano and Teodosio  were the three Roman Emperors borned in Spain,  in the city of Italica.

Itálica, Spain

Trajan was the son of a senator and general, and Trajan rose all the ranks in the Roman army, until he was a Tribunus, and Consul.

During the reign of emperor Domitian. Trajan was a general in the Roman army in the German frontier. Trajan successfully put down the revolt of Antonius Saturninus in 89.

In September 96, Domitian was succeeded by Marcus Cocceius Nerva, an old and childless senator who proved to be unpopular with the army. After a year in power, a revolt by members of the Praetorian Guard made him to accept Trajan as his heir and successor. Nerva died on 27 January 98, and was succeeded by his adopted son without incident.

The new Roman emperor was greeted by the people of Rome with great enthusiasm, which he justified by governing well and without the bloodiness that had marked Domitian's reign. He freed many people and returned a great deal of private property that Domitian had confiscated.

His popularity was such that the Roman Senate eventually bestowed upon Trajan the honorific of optimus, meaning "the best".

As a military commander, Trajan is well known to history, specially for his conquests in the Near East, in the two wars against Dacia.

By the year 107, Roman legions stationed in the area around Petra and Bostra, as is shown by a papyrus found in Egypt. The empire gained what became the province of Arabia Petraea (modern southern Jordan and north west Saudi Arabia).

As a civilian emperor, he built several new buildings, monuments and roads in Italia and his native Hispania. His magnificent complex in Rome raised to commemorate his victories in Dacia , consisting of a forum, Trajan's Column, and Trajan's Market still stands in Rome today. He was also a prolific builder of triumphal arches, many of which survive, and rebuilder of roads (Via Traiana and Via Traiana Nova).

Another important act was his formalisation of the Alimenta, a welfare program that helped orphans and poor children throughout Italy. It provided general funds, as well as food and subsidized education. The program was supported initially by funds from the Dacian War, and then later by a combination of estate taxes

In 113, he embarked on his last campaign, that led him to Mesopotamia, ( Tigris and Eufrates rivers ) in 116.

Early in 117, Trajan grew ill and set out to sail back to Italy, where he died.

Trajan's ashes were laid to rest underneath Trajan's column, the monument commemorating his success.

Spanish History main page