Birth of Trajan
Trajan is born at Italica in Hispania Baetica on September 18, 53.
Role range: 0098-0117
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Marcus Ulpius Trajan Biography and Timeline
Follow Marcus Ulpius Trajan through 67 dated historical records for Roman Empire.
Marcus Ulpius Trajan, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
67Distinct records
1 of 2Page
53–106Years on this page
53
75
Military Tribune in Syria
Around 74 or 75, Trajan serves as a military tribune in Syria during the early stages of his imperial career.
Role range: 0098-0117
78
Quaestorship
Trajan advances through the senatorial career and probably serves as quaestor around 78.
Role range: 0098-0117
84
Praetorship
Trajan reaches the praetorship during the reign of Domitian, continuing his advancement through Rome's senatorial offices.
Role range: 0098-0117
86
Command of Legio VII Gemina
Trajan commands Legio VII Gemina during the later years of Domitian's reign.
Role range: 0098-0117
91
Consul
Trajan serves as consul in 91 during the reign of Domitian.
Role range: 0098-0117
96
Governor of Germania Superior
Trajan serves as governor of Germania Superior shortly before Nerva adopts him as heir.
Role range: 0098-0117
97
Adoption by Nerva
Emperor Nerva adopts Trajan and designates him as his imperial heir on October 27, 97.
Role range: 0098-0117
Military Support for Trajan's Adoption
Nerva adopts Trajan amid pressure from the army after the Praetorian crisis, strengthening support for the succession.
Role range: 0098-0117
Germanicus Title
Trajan receives the victory title Germanicus while commanding Roman forces on the Rhine frontier.
Role range: 0098-0117
98
Succession
After Nerva dies, Trajan succeeds as Roman emperor while commanding on the Rhine frontier.
Role range: 0098-0117
Accession on the Rhine
Trajan receives news of Nerva's death and his imperial succession while commanding Roman forces on the Rhine frontier.
Role range: 0098-0117
Second Consulship
Trajan holds his second consulship in 98, sharing the office with Emperor Nerva before Nerva's death.
Role range: 0098-0117
Inspection of Rhine Frontier
After becoming emperor, Trajan remains on the northern frontier to inspect troops and strengthen Roman defenses.
Role range: 0098-0117
Visit to Germania Inferior
Trajan visits Germania Inferior during his first year as emperor rather than returning immediately to Rome.
Role range: 0098-0117
99
Entry into Rome
Trajan enters Rome in 99 after spending his first year as emperor securing the Rhine and Danube frontiers.
Role range: 0098-0117
Frontier Organization before Rome
Before entering Rome, Trajan spends months organizing Roman defenses and military administration along the Rhine and Danube frontiers.
Role range: 0098-0117
100
Expansion of Alimenta
Trajan expands the alimenta, a state-supported program that provides assistance for children in Italian communities.
Role range: 0098-0117
Foundation of Thamugadi
Trajan establishes the Roman colony of Thamugadi in North Africa for veterans and settlers.
Role range: 0098-0117
Third Consulship
Trajan holds his third consulship in 100 while consolidating his authority after his arrival in Rome.
Role range: 0098-0117
101
Dacian War, 1st
Trajan begins the First Dacian War against King Decebalus in 101.
Role range: 0098-0117
Battle of Tapae
Trajan defeats Dacian forces at Tapae during the First Dacian War.
Role range: 0098-0117
Fourth Consulship
Trajan holds his fourth consulship in 101, the year the First Dacian War begins.
Role range: 0098-0117
Dacian Strategic Threat
Trajan regards the growing power of King Decebalus and Dacia as a strategic threat on the Danube frontier.
Role range: 0098-0117
Invasion of Dacia
Trajan invades Dacia in 101 as Roman armies open the First Dacian War against Decebalus.
Role range: 0098-0117
102
Dacicus Title
After the First Dacian War, Trajan receives the victory title Dacicus.
Role range: 0098-0117
Decebalus Becomes Client King
After the first Dacian campaign, Decebalus accepts Roman client status under a settlement imposed by Trajan.
Role range: 0098-0117
Port of Ostia
Trajan orders major improvements to the harbor facilities serving Rome at Portus near Ostia.
Role range: 0098-0117
Treaty with Decebalus
The First Dacian War ends with Decebalus accepting a restrictive peace settlement and client status under Rome.
Role range: 0098-0117
Dacian Peace Treaty
Trajan forces Decebalus to accept peace after the First Dacian War and to recognize Roman supremacy.
Role range: 101-102 – 0098-0117
Roman-Dacian Client Alliance
The 102 settlement makes Decebalus a Roman client king after Trajan's first Dacian campaign.
Role range: 0098-0117
103
Fifth Consulship
Trajan serves his fifth consulship in 103 during the interval between the two Dacian wars.
Role range: 0098-0117
105
Dacian War, 2nd
Renewed conflict with Decebalus leads Trajan to begin the Second Dacian War in 105.
Role range: 0098-0117
106
Annexation of Dacia
Trajan annexes Dacia as a Roman province after the defeat of Decebalus in 106.
Role range: 0098-0117
Annexation of Nabataea
In 106, the Syrian governor Cornelius Palma annexes the Nabataean kingdom, which becomes the Roman province of Arabia Petraea.
Role range: 0098-0117
Conquest of Dacia
Roman forces complete the conquest of Dacia after taking the principal Dacian strongholds in 106.
Role range: 0098-0117
Death of Decebalus
After the fall of his strongholds, Decebalus takes his own life rather than be captured by Roman forces.
Role range: 0098-0117
Fall of Sarmizegethusa
Roman forces capture Sarmizegethusa during the final campaign against Decebalus in 106.
Role range: 0098-0117
Incorporation of Petra
Petra is incorporated into the new Roman province of Arabia Petraea after the annexation of the Nabataean kingdom.
Role range: 0098-0117
Dacia Becomes Roman Province
After Decebalus is defeated, Trajan incorporates Dacia into the Roman Empire as a province in 106.
Role range: 0098-0117
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.