Trajan (18 September 53 – 8 August 117 AD) was Roman emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born in the city of Italica in the province of Hispania Baetica, Trajan's non-patrician family was of Italian and Iberian origin. Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in 89 Trajan supported Domitian against a revolt on the Rhine led by Antonius Saturninus. 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 brief and tumultuous year in power, culminating in a revolt by members of the Praetorian Guard, Nerva was compelled to adopt the more popular Trajan as his heir and successor.

Early in his reign, Trajan annexed the Nabataean Kingdom, creating the province of Arabia Petraea. His conquest of Dacia enriched the Empire greatly, as the new province possessed many valuable gold mines.

Trajan’s war against the Parthian Empire ended with the sack of Ctesiphon and the annexation of Armenia and Mesopotamia. His campaigns expanded the Roman Empire to its greatest territorial extent.

In late AD 117, while sailing back to Rome, Trajan fell ill and died of a stroke in the city of Selinus. He was deified by the Senate and his ashes were laid to rest under Trajan’s Column.

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