The '''Marcus Ulpius Nerva Trajanus Augustus''' ('''''Trajan''''', A.D. 53 – A.D. 117) was a Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD and the second of the [[Five Good Emperors]]. He was adopted by [[Nerva]] and was succeeded by [[Hadrian]]. Out During his reign he oversaw a rigorous program of building projects and showed toleration in areas where many other Emperors would not. When [[Pliny the Younger]] asked Trajan in 112 what was to be done with [[Five Christians]], Trajan responded to be lenient. Under Trajan the Roman EmperorsEmpire reached the pinnacle of its expansion near the end of his reign when a war with [[Parthia]]led him to conquer land east of the [[Euphrates]] river. He also reached the [[Persian Gulf]]. A [[Judean revolt]] in 117 led to harsh response as did an uprising in his newly conquered lands. He died before he could prosecute the war further. His military conquests had no meaningful longterm impact. Traditionally, Trajan ruled is often cited as a paradigm of the just ruler. For example, in [[Dante's Paradiso]], he is included in [[Dante]]'s list of the six most landvirtuous rulers.Among Roman Emperors, only he and [[Constantine the Great]] have this distinction. [[Category:Roman Emperors]][[Category:Anti-Christianity]]