Welcome friends of the mighty Rome, whom have gathered here today to witness the telling of the tale of the Greatest emperor Rome has ever known. Marcus Ulipus Tainanus. TRAJAN to the histories. Here shall his remarkable story be told, from his life as Governor of Germainina, to his rule of the Roman Empire.

The murder of Emperor Domitian left Rome with no Leader and threats of Civil War. To fill this void, the senate elected one of its own as Emperor. Nerva was his name, old and wise.

Stunning that the Senate should elect one as shrivled as me Emperor of Rome.

You are wise my Lord, I am sure you shall rule the empire justly.

Ah, but for how long? I have not what the empire desires most. A Son and Heir!

ASSISTANT:

There is talk among the legions of one such man. Trajan of Italica in Spain. He was a wonderful General who fought against the barbarians to the North, and currently is governor of Germainia.

You speak of his with such high reguard.

Very well, Provide me with more information on This remarkable man, and maybe I shall consider him my Heir

Father! Urgent news from Rome! From Emperor Nerva himself.

Nerva old and wise had indeed chosen his heir well. When he perished 2 years later, Trajan did not return immediately to Rone, but made sure Germainia was in able hands first.

As new emperor of Rome, he established good relations with the Senate and was immediately favored by the people.

Rome should remain the jewel it is, the poor and jobless should be employed to refurnish the city so the city should shine and the people be fed and content. We should build new temples to the Gods so they may smile on us, and harbors to encourage trade!

But what of the young orphans who do not have adequate care? Shall we put them to work?

Nay! We shall provide them with care, Rome’s orphans should be treated as Rome’s children then as outcasts.

But my Lord, how are we to pay for this? The treasuries are almost depleted due to the wars on the Frontiers!

Father! Horrific news from the Frontiers. Since you left Germainia, King Decebalus of the barbarians is crossing the Danube and launching assaults upon Rome!

He still will not admit defeat after 5 years that Barbarian traitor! Send word to the Legions that that they prepare for war. I leave for the frontiers at once!

My Lord! Surely you cannot go back to war! How can we afford it? Decebalus has betrayed you once before! Surely my Lord you cannot think of going to war after only a few years on the throne!

The gods smile upon me at this hour. Don’t you see? This is the answer to our problem! Once I defeat Decebalus, which I have done and will again, I shall declare his lands a province of Rome, and land in our possession the Gold Mines he had so coveted.

Fortune indeed! Then we shall be wealthy enough to satisfy your dreams of a glorious Rome!

And so Rome became rich due to the Gold Mines of Dacia, and the people honored this accomplishment by building a spectacular monument to him in Rome known as Trajans Column. But despite Trajan’s goodness and virtues, he had one flaw. His desire for War and Conquest. From the Northern frontiers he now looked to the east, and Judea and Mesopotamia.

Babylon! None save Alexander the Great has conquered so far as this!

I must say father, it is quite an achievement. But you must understand reality! The barbarians to the North cause enough trouble as it is. What more these lands so far from Rome?

Alas that I cannot continue as Alexander, for I am not as young as he.

We have already conquered too much! Look at what you have. You made Rome beautiful and rich. The people love you. But this is unnecessary.

It will be part of my empire nonetheless. I shall put down the rebellions in Judea and Palestine, after which I shall return to Rome.

I leave you in charge of all the legions here while I return to Rome. I know you shall guard the provinces well and hold them in my name.

With all your wisdom father, conquering these provinces is your greatest mistake.

Trajan will never see Rome again. While returning from Mesopotamia, he suffered a stroke. But before he died, he declared Hadrian, his foster-son, as his Heir and made his Emperor of Rome.

Hadrian, against his fathers will, released the provinces from Roman rule, making Trajan’s last conquest pointless.

But Despite this, Hadrian honored his father along with all of Rome, whom had never seen an emperor as Just and wise since Augustus. And since then, All emperors of Rome were hailed with the prayer. ‘May you be luckier than Augustus, and better than Trajan’

But no one ever was.