In my opinion, Marcus Ulpius Traianus or Trajan was one of the best Roman generals and emperors. He was an outstanding emperor with the behavior of a simple Roman citizen. He was the first emperor born outside of the Rome. His popularity among the soldiers could be compared only with the popularity of Julius Caesar and Marcus Antonius. During his reign, the Roman Empire reached its territorial maximum. He was born on 18 September 53 in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica. During the reign of Nero Trajan’s father was included in the Senate. Trajan began his career during the reign of Domitian, who in 96 appointed him governor of Upper Germany. A year later, as a result of the soldier’s rebellion, Domitian's successor Nerva adopted and appointed Trajan as his co-regent, because of his popularity in the army. On 28 January 98, after the death of Nerva Trajan became the emperor. Reign of Trajan was remembered in the history of large conquests.
Trajan made significant changes to the structure of the Roman army. He created: “Second Valiant Trajanic Legion” and “Thirtieth Victorious Ulpian legion” both were created in 105 AD for the second Dacian campaign so that the total number of legions in the Empire reached the maximum – thirty. Also, he created new horse guards “equites singulars” - original numbering 500 inhabitants of Thrace, Pannonia, Dacia. To strengthen the borders of the Danube was built Trajan’s wall. Almost from the beginning of the reign of Trajan, without delay, he began to prepare for Dacian campaign to once and for all take a serious threat over the Danube frontier. In 100 was assembled striking force of 12 legions, 16 alae and 62 auxiliary cohorts totaling up to 200 thousand people. Then, in March 101, the Roman army, violating the Domitian peace treaty began the invasion to Dacia. Divided into two columns (western commanded Trajan himself) on the pontoon bridge crossed the Danube. These forces opposed about 160 thousand (including 20 thousand allies - Bastarnae, Roxolans and presumably Boers) Decebalus army. Romans faced with a worthy opponent who not only steadfastly resisted, but bravely counterattacked on the Roman side of the Danube.
Disagreement with an old enemy Parthia about the candidates for the Armenian throne (Parthian protege was Partamasiris, Roman - Axidares) became a catalyst for the war. During the preparation of the main phase of the campaign Trajan won a bridgehead for the attack. After unsuccessful negotiations with the Parthian king Osroes I in October 112 Trajan went from Italy, while on the East was brought reinforcements from Dacian garrisons, so the total number of legions in campaign against Parthia reached 11. In the East, in 114-117 years during the war with Parthia emperor annexed to the Roman Empire Armenia and Mesopotamia. In the 116, Trajan and his troops reached the Persian Gulf and captured the Parthians capital of Ctesiphon. However, the fall of next year the Parthians and the Jews launched a large guerrilla movement, which reached Armenia and northern Mesopotamia. Unlike the other centers of the uprising, uprising in Mesopotamia formed as a united front. Later Rome lost the Greek city of Seleucia.
Trajan was very popular among the simple people and soldiers as well as in the higher circles and the senate. He loved to hunt, swim, paddle and wade through a jungle forest. Trajan appointed new members of the Senate from the eastern provinces; the processes for the insult of greatness were canceled. Trajan often came to visit his friends to congratulate them on holidays or when they were sick. According to Eutropius his friends began to rebuke him, because he behaved himself as a simple citizen. Tacitus identified during the reign of Trajan as «beatissimum saeculum» - “the happiest age”, it was the golden age of Roman Empire, which ended with the death of Marcus Aurelius.
Trajan was not only the general, but also the good ruler in time of peace. During his reign Trajan granted Roman citizenship to residents of several cities in his native province Hispania Baetica. During the colonization of Dacia Trajan resettled a large number of people from Romanized world to the new colonies in Dacia. It was caused Dacian campaigns and the reduced number of indigenous people. Much attention Trajan paid to gold mining and directed there qualified in mining Illyrians. In the Nabataean kingdom because of its great strategic importance began Romanization. As well as on the Danube, immediately began the construction of roads, fortifications and surveillance system.
Trajan continued development of Alimenta system, the system of state support for low-income citizens (“capite censi”), embodied by its predecessor - the Nerva. In the Alimenta system, one of the important innovations was the creation by taxes and contributions from individuals several local alimony funds. From these funds were given monthly allowances for children from poor families to boys - 16 sesterces, to girls – 12sesterces. Because of 165 tons of and 331 tons of silver from Dacia price of gold fell by 3-4%, in 106 Trajan cancelled all taxes, and every taxpayer received 650 denarii, which is two times bigger than the annual salary legionary. To traditional capital distribution of bread in Rome, which was added five thousand children in need, was added distribution of wine and oil, the same practice existed in other areas at the expense of the municipality and private philanthropists. Trajan Introduced the new post curator (Latin curatores alimentorum) who, representing Rome, received financial control in areas of Italy and the provinces. Trajan also stabilized the grain supply to Rome, obliging each senator to invest a third part of their income into the Italian agriculture. Italian farmers were invested at low interest rate from Alimenta fund, so Italy has practically ceased to depend on the supply of Egyptian bread. Italic poor landowners were able to sell their property at a high price and buy cheap land in the provinces. For imported grain supplies in Ostia, in addition to the harbor of Claudius, Trajan built a new, hexagonal harbor - Portus Traiani Felicis, which controlled procurator Portus Utriusque (procurator of both harbors). The pier was so big that there could place a ship size of "Titanic" and even a U.S. aircraft carrier "Nimitz" class.
Large Trajan’s construction program deployed on funds from victorious campaigns. This program had a huge impact on the infrastructure of Rome and Italy, and had made a greater contribution to a better image of the princeps. Apollodorus of Damascus, who was Trajan’s architect since the Dacian campaign supervised the construction and designed all of the most significant buildings. Almost all new construction received Trajan’s cognomen or nomen including: well-known column height of about 40 meters, the forum, the market in the new forum, the basilica, the so-called “trophy” (Tropaeum Traiani), Baths of Trajan, Trajan's aqueduct, road via Traiana - simpler route from Brindisium than Appian and others. All Central and Eastern Europe became cross the Danube road. Trajan reopened the canal from the Nile to the Red Sea. This canal has since called Trajan moat, “fossa Traiana”.
During Trajan’s reign was quite tolerant policy towards Christians. The early Christian community - ecclesia in terms of Roman law at that time regarded as a collegium - an association of persons related worship or shared profession. Their activities were regulated by the imperial law, which required a minimum of registration and authorization.
During the siege of Hatra in Mesopotamia Trajan felt ill. In the summer of 117, he removed the siege and returned to Antioch. Army leadership and governorship in Syria he gave his cousin Adrian. In all likelihood, in Antioch Trajan was partially paralyzed, as a result, of the stroke. And yet, he ordered to carry him to Rome. Trajan died August 9 in Cilicia. His remains were brought to Rome and immured with honors in the basement of his triumphal column.
Works Cited
Bennett, Julian. Trajan: Optimus Princeps. Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 2001.
Vitzthum, Hildegard Temporini-Gräfin. Die Kaiserinnen Roms. Munich: C.H.Beck, 2002.
Wiseman, James. "Beyond the Danube's Iron Gates." Archaeology 2 1997: 24.
