: After being adopted as heir by the unpopular Emperor Nerva, Trajan did not rush back to Rome. Instead, he stayed on the Germanic frontier for nearly a year to ensure the loyalty of the legions. He famously summoned the Praetorian Guard members who had bullied Nerva and, according to historian Cassius Dio, "put them out of the way" to restore order.
: Following his victory in the Dacian Wars, Trajan hosted one of the most massive celebrations in Roman history. He sponsored 123 days of public festivities at the Colosseum, featuring roughly 10,000 gladiators and 11,000 wild animals. Marcus Traianus
A 98-foot marble column featuring a continuous spiral relief that acts like a stone "movie" of his Dacian campaigns. Mercati di Traiano Museo dei Fori Imperiali OpenRome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy : After being adopted as heir by the
Often cited as the world's first multi-story shopping mall, this complex housed over 150 shops and offices. Trajan's Forum Historical landmark OpenRome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy : Following his victory in the Dacian Wars,
: He was so highly regarded for his fairness and benevolence that the Senate officially bestowed upon him the title Optimus Princeps , meaning "the best ruler". For centuries after his death, new emperors were inaugurated with the wish that they would be "luckier than Augustus and better than Trajan".