Emperor Trajan Born: Rome's Greatest Expansionist
Trajan was born in the Roman province of Hispania Baetica — in what is now southern Spain — in 53 AD, making him the first Roman emperor born outside Italy. He was a career soldier who worked his way up through the legions and was adopted as successor by the aging Nerva in 97 AD. His two Dacian campaigns between 101 and 106 AD are depicted in continuous relief on Trajan's Column in Rome, the most detailed record of Roman military operations that survives. The column shows every step: river crossings, fort construction, supply chains, battles. He pushed the empire's borders farther than they'd ever reached, and farther than they'd ever reach again.
September 18, 53
1973 years ago
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