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Marcus Cocceius Nerva was Roman emperor from 96 to 98 CE and his reign brought stability after the turbulent successions of his predecessors. In addition, Nerva helped establish the foundations for a new golden era for Rome which his chosen successor Trajan would bring to full fruition.
His major failure was to the end the system of imperial succession by which the ruling Emperor adopted a son on the basis of merit and then groomed him as his heir and successor.This system,introduced by Nerva in 98 AD produced what is known to historians as the Five Good Emperors Marcus Aurelius being the fifth and last of this group.