How did Emperor Trajan expand the Roman Empire?

Marcus Ulpius Traianus ruled as Roman emperor from 98 to 117 AD, earning the title optimus princeps from the Senate. He was a celebrated soldier-emperor who led major military campaigns, annexing territories like Nabataea and Dacia, and pushing the empire to its maximum territorial extent. His conquests, alongside philanthropic and social welfare initiatives, helped fund extensive public building projects in Rome.

What we know

• Trajan served as Roman emperor from 98 to 117 AD and was the second of the Five Good Emperors. [2]
• During Trajan's reign, the Roman Empire reached its maximum territorial extent through major military expansions. [2]
• Trajan annexed Dacia following two military campaigns against King Decebalus, seizing valuable gold and silver mines. [4]
• Trajan died of a stroke in August 117 AD in the city of Selinus while sailing back to Rome. [2]

Where to go next

• what caused itWhat caused Trajan's Dacian Wars?
• how we knowHow did Trajan's Column commemorate the Dacian conquests?
• the bigger pictureWho were the Five Good Emperors?
• compared withHow did Hadrian change Trajan's imperial policies?
• whereWhere was Trajan born?
• an unexpected connectionHow did an engineer's bridge design enable a massive military invasion?Trajan utilized brilliant engineering feats by Apollodorus of Damascus, including pontoon and stone bridges across the Danube, to move Roman legions directly into enemy territory.

Sources

• [1]Trajan (Wikidata Q1425) · CC0 1.0
• [2]Trajan · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [3]Hadrian · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [4]Trajan's Dacian Wars · CC BY-SA 4.0
• [5]Marcia (mother of Trajan) · CC BY-SA 4.0