224
ACCESSION OF TRAJAN.
only trace of which exists in an inscription, in which mention
is made of a victoria Suevica. The boundaries of the several
tribes may be clearly seen fιom Tacitus’ Germania. Nerva
reigned only one year and a half, and died in his sixty-sixth
year, A.D. 98.
The empire was now so firmly established, that Trajan, al-
though he was at Cologne when Nerva died, could quietly
enter upon his government there, without returning to Rome
till the next year. Immediately after taking possession of the
sovereign power, he showed his ability by attacking the villan-
ous delatores, whom Nerva had spared: a few of them paid
for their crimes with their lives; but the majority were ban-
ished to the barren islands of the Mediterranean. A still
bolder step, was his arresting the most turbulent among the
praetorians and putting the ringleaders to death. By these and
similar measures, Trajan secured and strengthened his power.
His reforms were mild, and affected individuals rather than the
state. He must have introduced very excellent arrangements in
the administration of the finances; for he wasenabled to reduce
the taxes, and to dispense with the increased burdens imposed
upon country districts : nevertheless, after his reign, Hadrian still
found it possible to reduce the public burdens enormously. But
although Trajan thus diminished taxation, he still had means
not only for carrying on expensive wars, but also for executing
the most costly undertakings without falling into any financial
embarrassment. The minute care which he bestowed upon
the provinces, as well as the principles of his administration,
may be seen in the tenth book of Pliny^s letters. Good em-
perors controlled the arbitrary conduct of governors, by taking
cognizance themselves of everything that happened. It was
fortunate for him that his father, in the enjoyment of vigorous
health, witnessed for many years the success of his son, and
rejoiced in his glory. Such a beautiful family relation had
never before been seen in the Roman woɪld.
Trajan was married to Plotina, a very excellent woman, by
whom, however, he had no children. The praise of this woman
far outweighs the isolated stories which very much resemble
mere pieces of scandal. She, and Trajan’s sister, Marciana, are
among the Inostestimable female characters in history; and the
manifest improvement in the conduct of women about that time
must undoubtedly be ascribed to the influence of those two
tbajan’s DACIAN wars.
225
matrons. Ever since the time of Livia, the Roman empresses,
with the exception of Vespasian’s wife, who was a worthy-
woman (but as a freed woman could not appear in society), had
encouraged and diffused the most unbounded licentiousness in
the conduct of women; but the open shamelessness, which had
till then been regarded as a necessary characteristic of females
of the higher classes, now ceased.
Trajan’s real inclinations were directed to war and great
architectural works; and considering the circumstances of the
empire, these inclinations, perhaps, ought not to be censured.
By occupying the nations and armies, he gave a higher tone to
his age; for if such a vast empire lives in the enjoyment of
peace, it cannot but become torpid and lifeless. His wars there-
fore were beneficial to Rome at the time, but what could they
lead to? It was necessary to go farther and farther, and this
shows how unfortunate such a dominion over the world is.
According to Roman feelings, Trajan had a just cause for un-
dertaking the first war against the Dacians, for the peace which
Domitian had concluded with them, and in which he had pro-
mised to pay a tribute, must have appeared to him as a disgrace
to the empire ; and he accordingly discontinued the payment. As
Decebalus felt himself strong enough, he declared war in a.d.
101. It is probable that the plains of Moldavia and Bessarabia
were inhabited by the Sarmatians, and governed by Dece-
balus. The war lasted for three years; when at length Trajan,
by taking the capital of the enemy, compelled him to make
peace. The terms of this peace are perfectly known to us from
the column of Trajan. Decebalus was obliged to deliver up
all Roman prisoners and deserters, and to pay a large sum of
money—which cannot have been difficult for him, as Dacia
is rich in silver—but still remained an independent prince in
his kingdom. A few years afterwards', however, the war broke
out afresh, for reasons which we may easily guess. The peace
was oppressive; the heavy burdens imposed upon the Dacians
were not thoroughly felt till after the conclusion of the peace,
and the insolence of the Roman governors rendered the re-
newal of the war inevitable. The Dacians repented, and as
Decebalus violated the peace and collected troops, Rome again
declared war against him. Decebalus was killed, and in the
second campaign Dacia was completely conquered, and changed
into a Roman province ; in which condition it remained until the
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