Was Trajan The Ideal Model?

Edward Gibbon has argued that the happiest time in existence for a man to be alive was during the second century, under the rule of the Five Good Emperors. One emperor that outshined the rest of the emperors was Trajan. Trajan rose to excellence due to his massive skills that he acquired throughout his career. Trajan also known as Optimus Princeps, is the best out of the Five Good Emperors due to his relationship that he had with the people and the senate. Trajan can be considered the ideal model of how an emperor should rule because he improved the quality of life for many as well as expanding the empire. As we have seen previously the succession of an emperor was determined through bloodline. However, after the death Nero the next emperor …show more content…
Dacia is known to have large amounts of gold and when Dacia was captured the Roman Empire received great fortunes. Trajan used the luxuries from Dacia to give back to the non-elite and create public works for the people. Trajan had no obligations to give back to the people even though he was an emperor he could have been a selfish careless emperor. With the fortunes that were annexed from Dacia Trajan created social programs that were intended to help the poor. Trajan could have followed in the footsteps of Nero and built himself a great Golden House but instead he created social programs such as the Alimentary Program. The Alimentary Program served as a welfare program that supported the orphans by giving them a small donation as well as food and an education. The Alimentary Program was funded by the interest received from loans that the state had lent to the farmers as well as the goods captured from the Dacian War. Even though war broke out during Trajan’s rule it can be justified because the gold and other luxuries improved the lives of many, either through social welfare programs or public buildings. Trajan also incorporated his ideas to Roman law by protecting the rights of minors and abandoned infants. The safety of the orphaned children were not cared for until the reign of Trajan showing that he was willing to improve the lives of many. If children were …show more content…
By creating these monuments, it allows the people to constantly see the great things Trajan did for them. Trajan was a successful ruler because he was rational and caring. His leadership and guidance allowed for the empire to grow and reach its greatest capacity under his rule. His compassionate character allowed Trajan to gain supporters, such as Pliny. Achieving military glory in his early life helped him succeed into the great emperor that he was. Trajan possessed all the characters one would imagine in an emperor, he had military glory but most importantly he was sympathetic. Trajan ruled for nineteen years and through his triumphs he will be remembered as the best ruler, Optimus