Trajan: Rome's Last Conqueror

by Nicholas Jackson

Overview

Until the publication of this captivating biography, no such volume on Trajan’s life has been tailored to the general reader. The unique book illuminates a neglected period of ancient Roman history, featuring a comprehensive array of maps, illustrations, and photographs to help orientate and bring the text to life.

Trajan rose from fairly obscure beginnings to become the emperor of Rome. He was born in Italica, an Italic settlement close to modern Seville in present-day Spain, and is the first Roman Emperor to be born outside of Rome. His remarkable rise from officer to general and then to emperor in just over 20 years reveals a shrewd politician who maintained absolute power. Trajan’s success in taking the Roman Empire to its greatest expanse is highlighted in this gripping biography.

Trajan’s military campaigns allowed the Roman Empire to attain its greatest military, political and cultural achievements. The book draws on novel theories, recent evidence and meticulous research, including field visits to Italy, Spain, Germany and Romania to ensure accurate, vivid writing that transports the reader to Trajan’s territory.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781784387075
Publisher:	Pen and Sword
Publication date:	04/13/2022
Pages:	320
Sales rank:	472,823
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.10(h) x 1.40(d)

About the Author

Nicholas is an infectious disease scientist by training (MSc., DLSHTM., PhD), with more than 20 years’ professional experience in the pharmaceutical industry working on vaccines. Recently, he has worked in R&D on several COVID-19 vaccines and advised several institutions and sovereign states on their vaccine development efforts. In his career, he has published numerous peer-reviewed scientific papers, reviews and professional articles. As a life-long student of Roman history, he has now uniquely combined his passion for Imperial Rome with his research acumen and writing expertise for the pharma industry to bring to life the gripping stories of ancient Rome.

Table of Contents

List of Plates and Maps ix

Preface xi

Trajan's Family Tree xvi

Chapter 1 Impressionable Years 1

Chapter 2 Young Adulthood in a New Era 18

Chapter 3 The Making of a Military Officer 26

Chapter 4 The Making of a General 45

Chapter 5 Adoption and Accession 71

Chapter 6 The Dawning Trajanic Age 103

Chapter 7 Trajan's First Dacian War 119

Chapter 8 Trajan's Second Dacian War 148

Chapter 9 Biding Time between Great Wars 170

Chapter 10 The Parthian War 196

Chapter 11 Conspiracy, Death and Deification 234

Notes 251

Bibliography 284

Index 292

Editorial Reviews

[A] convincing and well-written biography of Trajan… [Jackson’s] narrative provides the reader with a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities that Trajan faced, and how his decisions and actions impacted the course of Roman history.

Bryn Mawr Classical Review

[A] unique and impressively informative study by Nicholas Jackson as he illuminates an often neglected period of ancient Roman history…

Midwest Book Review