Extract

Trajan (Marcus Ulpius Traianus), Roman emperor 98–117 ce, was born probably in 53 at *Italica in Spain, the son of M. *Ulpius Traianus, a distinguished consular under the Flavians. His unusually long period of service as a military tribune (though hardly ten years as *Pliny (2) the Younger alleges) included a time in *Syria during the governorship of his father c.75 (see tribuni militum). While legionary legate (see legati) in Spain he marched against L. *Antonius Saturninus, governor of Upper Germany (see germania), who revolted against Domitian in 89. He was consul in 91, and then having been appointed by *Nerva in 97 as governor of Upper Germany, was adopted by that emperor, who faced growing discontent among the praetorians, as his son and co-ruler, and became consul ordinarius (see consul) for the second time in 98.