Trajan died on 7 August 117 CE in Selinus, aged 63. A Roman emperor born in the province of Hispania Baetica, in what is now Spain, Trajan was the first emperor from outside Italy. A successful general, he was adopted by the emperor Nerva in 97 and succeeded him in 98. He conquered Dacia, in present-day Romania, after two hard campaigns, and its gold mines enriched the empire. Late in his reign he campaigned against the Parthians and took Mesopotamia, bringing the empire to its greatest territorial extent, although the gains were soon given up. In Rome he built a forum, a market and a column that records his victories in spiralling relief. Considered a model ruler, he died in 117 and was succeeded by Hadrian.
Before and after
- from 106 CE to 107 CETrajan conquers Dacia
- 113 CETrajan's Column
- from 115 CE to 117 CETrajan's Parthian campaign
- 117 CEThe Roman Empire reaches its greatest extent
- 7 August 117 CEDeath of Trajan
- 2nd centuryRise of Montanism
- 26 April 121 CEBirth of Marcus Aurelius
- 122 CEConstruction of Hadrian's Wall
- 122 CEConstruction of Hadrian's Wall begins
More in Wars, politics & history
- from 499 BCE to 449 BCEGreco-Persian Wars
- from 431 BCE to 404 BCEPeloponnesian War
- from 218 BCE to 201 BCESecond Punic War
- from 59 BCE to 51 BCECaesar begins the conquest of Gaul
- 43 CERome invades Britain
- 17 January 395 CEThe Roman Empire is permanently divided
The era
This moment belongs to the Ancient civilizations (3,200 BCE to 500 CE), writing, cities and empires. You can also browse everything in the 2nd century.