Trajan, born Marcus Ulpius Traianus in AD 53, ruled Rome from AD 98 to 117. He is remembered as the emperor who took the empire to its largest extent and as a man who could both win wars and leave behind impressive buildings. If emperors were football managers, Trajan would be the one who actually won trophies and built a new stadium at the same time.
Arms and Armour
When you picture Trajan’s soldiers, think of them as practical but adaptable. Roman kit in the early second century wasn’t uniform like modern military dress. Some wore mail, others scale, and yes, segmented plate still appeared though not as often as Hollywood might suggest.
Trajan’s wars against the Dacians forced the Romans to rethink some of their kit. The Dacians wielded the falx, a terrifying two-handed blade capable of cutting through helmets and shields. Roman troops responded with reinforced helmets and even strapped metal guards (manicae) onto their arms. Imagine being told: “The enemy’s swords can cut your head open, so here’s an extra metal sleeve, good luck.”
Standard issue still meant gladius at the hip, pila for throwing, and the trusty scutum shield, rectangular for most legionaries and oval for auxiliaries. Cavalry were increasingly using the longer spatha, a sign of where things were heading.
Battles and Military Acumen
The Dacian Wars
Trajan fought two wars against Decebalus, king of the Dacians. These weren’t quick raids but full campaigns involving sieges, bridge-building, and heavy logistics. The bridge across the Danube, designed by Apollodorus of Damascus, was an engineering marvel. Trajan didn’t just beat Decebalus, he absorbed Dacia into the empire. And yes, he built a giant column back in Rome to brag about it, because why not?
The Parthian Campaign
Later in his reign Trajan marched east and briefly conquered parts of Mesopotamia, even taking Ctesiphon, the Parthian capital. He overreached though. Holding onto that territory proved impossible. Add in a nasty earthquake in Antioch and local uprisings, and the great eastern adventure ended in retreat. Even the best emperors learn the hard way that supply lines only stretch so far.
His Style
What stands out with Trajan is that he wasn’t reckless. He used rivers, roads, and ports like chess pieces, making sure his men could be fed and reinforced. He built things that lasted. Dacia worked because he had the infrastructure to hold it. Mesopotamia slipped because he didn’t. Simple as that.
Where to See His Legacy
If you want to connect with Trajan today, Rome is the obvious place. Trajan’s Column still rises in the centre, its spiralling reliefs showing Roman troops building bridges, fighting Dacians, and generally looking heroic. The Forum of Trajan and the Markets nearby are also worth exploring—they were essentially Rome’s ancient version of a shopping centre mixed with a government hub.
Busts of Trajan can be found in museums across Europe, often looking surprisingly calm for a man who spent half his life at war. And along the Danube you can still see the remnants of his bridge, even if the wooden superstructure is long gone.
Archaeology and New Discoveries
Archaeologists are still busy with Trajan’s world. His harbour at Portus continues to be studied, showing how Rome fed its people and armies. Excavations around his Forum in Rome recently uncovered a colossal marble head, possibly from a huge statue. Even today, Trajan manages to keep archaeologists on their toes.
A Few Personal Thoughts
I have a soft spot for Trajan. He comes across as someone who wanted to be more than just a conqueror. He was practical, almost managerial in his approach, but he knew how to put on a show when it mattered. There’s something oddly relatable about him. You win a big campaign? Fine, build a column so everyone remembers. You lose ground in the east? Well, at least you tried.
And while many emperors left legacies of paranoia or cruelty, Trajan’s reputation stayed broadly positive. Even later Romans called him “the best ruler.” If you’re the kind of person who judges leaders by whether they made life better or worse for most people, Trajan scores well.
The Seven Swords Takeaway
Trajan’s reign was the high-water mark of Roman expansion, but also a lesson in balance. Push too far and the empire strains; build wisely and it thrives. He was both a field commander and a builder, which explains why his memory endures so strongly. If you get the chance to stand before Trajan’s Column, do it. It is history carved in stone, propaganda yes, but also a record of one emperor who knew how to fight, build, and brag in equal measure.
