September 18th, 53AD - Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Traianus - Imperator Caesar Nerva Traianus Augustus

Selinus was a small port city on the coast of Cilicia, modern-day Turkey. In 117AD, in ill health and on his way back to Rome, ostensibly to die somewhere important, the emperor Trajan died of natural causes, aged 63.

He’d been frail for some time, as evidenced by the display of a bronze bust at the public baths of Ancyra, showing an aged and emaciated man. However, the attribution of this to Trajan is disputed.

Although it was widely acknowledged that Trajan wanted Hadrian as heir, he had yet to publicly declare it and it’s possible that Trajan’s death was kept secret for a few days by his wife Pompeia Plotina, presumably by popping him on ice or something, until she could suddenly and miraculously discover a letter that named Hadrian as successor.

This deathbed letter, when it was 'found', was signed only by Plotina and it was immediately suspect. Trajan had been co-guardian of Hadrian and his sister, Paullina, alongside a man called Publius Acilius Attianus and rumour suggested Attianus and Plotina were lovers. They were both present when Trajan died, and both stood to benefit from Hadrian becoming emperor. But the problem with this suggestion, notwithstanding there being zero evidence of it, is that it relies heavily on the old trope of Roman women either being witches, bitches or whores.

Plotina spent her whole life doing nothing that merited any sort of suspicion. She was a dutiful and above all (in historical terms) silent wife. Once her husband dropped dead and her signature turns up, suddenly she’s on the same level as some of Rome’s greatest Machiavellian matriarchs like Livia and Agrippina.

Most likely, she just signed the letter because Trajan couldn’t or she did it soon after his death in order to make sure his wishes were carried out. But that’s not enough for some people. For some people, she also had to be an absolute bitch. In ancient history, women, who normally don’t get much of a voice, tend to be shoe-horned into patriarchal narratives.

Emperor Trajan, born Marcus Ulpius Traianus on September 18, 53AD, in the Roman province of Hispania, is remembered as one of Rome's greatest emperors. He reigned from 98AD to 117AD, a period often viewed as the pinnacle of Roman prosperity and expansion. Trajan's legacy is distinguished by his military conquests, extensive building projects, and a reputation for being a just ruler. He was also closely associated with Pliny the Younger, whose correspondence with the emperor has provided valuable insight into the governance of the Roman Empire.

Trajan was the first Roman emperor born outside of Italy, a reflection of the Roman Empire's increasingly diverse elite. His family had long been established in the Roman aristocracy, and his father was a successful general and senator. Trajan’s early military service was equally impressive, earning him significant honours and recognition. His ascension to the throne was largely due to the influence of the emperor Nerva, who adopted Trajan as his heir in 97AD in a move designed to stabilize the Roman political system after the tumultuous reign of Domitian.

Once emperor, Trajan immediately set about consolidating power and expanding the empire. His military campaigns, particularly against the Dacians, were pivotal to his reign. The two Dacian Wars (101-102AD and 105-106AD) ended in Roman victory and the annexation of Dacia, a rich region in modern-day Romania. The wealth from these campaigns, particularly gold and silver, contributed significantly to Rome’s economy and allowed Trajan to embark on a series of ambitious building projects. These included the construction of Trajan’s Forum, a massive complex in the heart of Rome that housed a library, markets, and the famed Trajan’s Column, which commemorates his victories in Dacia.

While his military conquests were considerable, Trajan is also remembered for his civic leadership and public works. He was known for his efforts to improve the lives of the Roman people, initiating a welfare program called alimenta, which aimed to provide food and resources to poor children throughout Italy. His reign was marked by the construction of roads, bridges, aqueducts, and harbours, which facilitated trade and strengthened the Roman economy.

One of the most significant aspects of Trajan’s reign was his relationship with Pliny the Younger, a Roman lawyer, author, and magistrate. Pliny’s letters to Trajan, and the emperor’s responses, have survived and offer a unique glimpse into the workings of Roman governance. Pliny served as the governor of Bithynia-Pontus, a province in modern-day Turkey, and wrote to Trajan on a variety of issues ranging from public works to local disputes and legal matters. These letters reveal Trajan as a thoughtful and pragmatic ruler, often giving careful consideration to the details of governance and showing a preference for moderation and fairness in his judgments.

One of the most famous exchanges between Pliny and Trajan concerns the treatment of Christians. Pliny, unsure of how to deal with the growing Christian population in his province, wrote to Trajan seeking guidance. In response, Trajan advised a measured approach: Christians were not to be actively hunted, but if they were brought before a court and refused to recant their faith, they could be punished. This exchange is one of the earliest recorded discussions about the Christian faith in the Roman Empire and reflects Trajan’s pragmatic approach to governance. He was not a religious zealot, nor did he see Christianity as a major threat to Roman authority at the time, but he also upheld the rule of law.

Trajan’s military campaigns continued with great success throughout his reign. After the Dacian Wars, he turned his attention to the east, launching a campaign against the Parthian Empire in 113AD. His conquests there were initially successful, and he managed to capture the Parthian capital of Ctesiphon. However, these gains were short-lived, and by the time of his death in 117AD, the Parthian territories had been lost. Despite this, Trajan’s expansion of the Roman Empire during his reign made him one of its greatest military leaders.

Trajan's death in 117AD marked the end of an era of expansion for the Roman Empire. He died while returning from his eastern campaigns, and his ashes were placed beneath Trajan’s Column in Rome, a rare honour for a Roman emperor. He was succeeded by his adopted son, Hadrian, who would focus more on consolidating the empire rather than expanding it.

Trajan’s reign was long remembered as a model of good governance and military prowess. Later Roman emperors were often compared to him, and it became customary for the Senate to wish new emperors that they be “luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan.” His public works, particularly in Rome, left a lasting legacy, and Trajan’s Column stands as one of the most enduring monuments from the Roman Empire. His conquest of Dacia not only enriched the empire but also contributed to the cultural and historical legacy of the region. Even today, the Romanian language and people trace part of their heritage back to Trajan’s Dacia.

The letters between Trajan and Pliny the Younger offer a rare and valuable glimpse into his style of governance. Trajan’s responses are often marked by their practicality and concern for fairness, and they suggest a ruler who was deeply involved in the day-to-day affairs of the empire. These letters have also contributed significantly to our understanding of Roman administration and the challenges of governing such a vast and diverse empire.

In the centuries after his death, Trajan’s reputation remained intact, and he was deified by the Roman Senate, a common honor for respected emperors. His reign, marked by military success, civic improvement, and relative political stability, is often seen as one of the high points of Roman history. The combination of his military conquests, building projects, and relationship with figures like Pliny the Younger has ensured that Trajan remains a key figure in both Roman history and the broader history of Western civilization.

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