What is Trajan?
{{Infobox Roman emperor | title = [[Roman emperor|Emperor]] of the [[Roman Empire]] | full name = Marcus Ulpius Traianus <br />(from birth to adoption); <br />Caesar Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus (from adoption to accession); <br />Imperator Caesar Divi Nervae filius Nerva Traianus Optimus Augustus Germanicus Dacicus Parthicus (as emperor) | image = Traianus Glyptothek Munich 336.jpg | caption = Marble bust of Trajan. | reign = 27 to 28 January 98 —<br>9 August 117<br>({{age in years and days|98|1|28|117|8|9}}) | predecessor = [[Nerva]] | successor = [[Hadrian]] | spouse 1 = Pompeia Plotina | spouse 1 2 = | issue = [[Hadrian]] (adoptive) | dynasty = [[Nervan-Antonian Dynasty|Nervan-Antonine]] | father = Marcus Ulpius Traianus | mother = Marcia | birth_date = {{Birth date|53|9|18|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Italica]], ancient [[Hispania]] | death_date = {{death date and age|117|8|9|53|9|18|df=y}} | death_place = [[Selinus]], [[Cilicia]] | burial_place = Rome }} '''Trajan''' (Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, 18 September 53 – 9 August 117) was [[Roman Emperor]] from 98 to 117. Born in the province of [[Hispania]] Baetica into an Italic family, Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor [[Domitian]].<ref>Julian Bennett, Trajan: Optimus Princeps, 2nd Edition, Routledge 2000, 12.</ref> Serving as a general in the [[Roman army]] along the [[Germanic peoples|German]] frontier, Trajan successfully put down the revolt of [[Lucius Antonius Saturninus|Antonius Saturninus]] in 89. In September 96, Domitian was succeeded by [[Nerva]], an old and childless senator who proved to be unpopular with the army. After a brief and tumultuous year in power, a revolt by members of the [[Praetorian Guard]] compelled him to adopt the more popular Trajan as his heir and successor. Nerva died on 27 January 98, and was succeeded by Trajan without incident. == Trajan as Emperor == As a civilian administrator, Trajan is best known for his extensive public building program which reshaped the city of [[Rome]] and left multiple endurin