(1) Successit eī Ulpius Crīnītus Trāiānus nātus Ītalicae in Hispāniā, familiā antīquā magis quam clārā. Nam pater eius prīmum consul fuit. Imperātōr autem apud Agrippīnam in Galliīs factus est. Rem pūblicam ita adminstrāvit, ut omnibus prīncipibus meritō praeferātur, inūsitātae cīvīlitātis et fortitūdinis.
(2) Rōmānī imperiī, quod post Augustum dēfēnsum magis fuerat quam nōbiliter ampliātum, fīnēs longē lātēque diffūdit. Urbēs trāns Rhēnum in Germāniā reparāvit. Dāciam Decibalō victō subēgit, prōvinciā trāns Dānubium factā in hīs agrīs, quōs nunc Taifalī, Victoalī et Tervingī habent. Ea prōvincia deciēs centēna mīlia passuum in circuitū tenuit.
notes
Trajan Emperor, 98–117 CE
Dio Cassius 68.8-69.3
(1) eī: dative object of successit refering to Nerva
Ulpius Crīnītus Trāiānus: Marcus Ulpius Trajan was born at Italica near Seville in Spain, September 18, 52 CE. He was trained to arms, and rose through the various offices to the rank of praetor. He was adopted by Nerva in 97. After Nerva's death he became emperor, being the first Roman emperor who was born out of Italy. He was a great soldier and a good administrator. Good sense, a knowledge of the world, and sound judgment characterized him. Just and sincere in his desire for the happiness of the people, he was one of the best emperors that governed Rome. He crushed the Dacians, successfully waged war against the Parthians, and brought peace and prosperity to the whole Roman world (Hazzard).
Nam pater eius prīmum consul fuit: Trajan's father was the first one in his family to attain the consulship
apud Agrippīnam: understand Coloniam, in full Colonia Claudia Ara Agrippinensium, the modern Cologne.
ita...ut: "in such a way that," introducing a result clause (AG 537)
omnibus prīncipibus: dative object of praeferātur
inūsitātae cīvīlitātis et fortitūdinis: "(a man) of extraordinary lack of pretension and bravery." The genitive of quality (AG 345) without a signaling noun like vir is unusual.
(2) trāns Rhēnum: the Rhine River
Dāciam: Trajan conducted two campaigns against the Dacians, 101–103 and 104–106 CE. On his return from the second campaign he celebrated a triumph and entertained the people with games lasting 123 days. "It is said that 11,000 animals were slaughtered during these amusements, and that 10,000 gladiators fought in the arena" (Hazzard, quoting Smith, s.v. M. Ulpius Traianus).
Decibalō victō: ablative absolute with a perfect passive participle (AG 419). Decebalus was king of Dacia.
trāns Dānubium: modern name Danube
Taifalī, Victoalī et Tervingī: the Taifali, Victohali, and Thervingi were all Germanic peoples who were forced out of their homes in what is now Eastern Europe by the nomadic Huns. They attempted to migrate into Roman territory and were initially opposed by the Romans, but later took control in the area around the Danube.
in circuitū: "in circumference." Eutropius' knowledge of the circumference of Dacia probably derived from his administrative duties. (Bird)
tenuit: = habuit (Hazzard)
vocabulary
Core Vocabulary | Numbers | Dates
| succēdō, ere, cessī, cessus |
to come up, advance; succeed, follow |
| Ulpius, ī, m. |
family name of (M.) Ulpius Crīnītus Trāiānus, Roman emperor 98–117 A.D. |
| Crīnītus, ī, m. | "long-haired," a cognomen of the emperor Trajan |
| Trāiānus, ī, m. |
cognomen of (M.) Ulpius Crīnītus Trāiānus, Roman emperor 98–117 A.D. |
| Ītalica, ae, f. | a city in Spain |
| Hispānia, ae, f. |
Spain (including Portugal). It was divided into two provinces, Hispania Citerior and Ulterior; hence the pl. Hispaniae. |
| Agrippīna, ae, f. | a city in Belgic Gaul |
| Gallia, ae, f. |
the country of the Gauls; modern France and the territories on the west bank of the Rhine. The northern part of Italy was settled by Gauls, and was called Gallia Cisalpina; hence the pl. Galliae. |
| administrō, āre, āvī, ātus [ad + ministrō, to manage] |
to manage, govern, regulate, carry on (war) |
| meritō [meritum, desert], adv. | deservedly, justly |
| praeferō, —ferre, —tulī, —lātum |
to put before, prefer |
| inūsitātus, a, um [in + ūsitātus, usual], adj. | unusual, unfamiliar, novel |
| cīvīlitās, ātis [cīvīlis], f. |
lack of pretension, courteousness, politeness, affability |
| fortitūdō, inis [fortis], f. | courage, bravery |
| Augustus, ī, m. |
a title of honor given to Octavianus in 27 BC and after him to all the Roman emperors 2 |
| ampliō, āre, āvī, ātus [amplus] | to enlarge, magnify |
| diffundō, ere, fūdī, fūsus | to spread out, extend, stretch |
| Rhēnus, ī, m. | the Rhine |
| Germānia, ae, f. | Germany |
| reparō, āre, āvī, ātus | to renew |
| Dācia, ae, f. | a country north of the Danube |
| Decibalus, ī, m. | a celebrated king of the Dacians |
| subigō, ere, ēgī, āctus |
to drive under, put down, conquer |
| Dānuvius, ī, m. | the Danube river |
| Taifalī, ōrum, pl. m. | a tribe of Dacia |
| Victoalī, ōrum, pl. m. | a West Gothic people |
| Tervingī, ōrum, pl. m. | a people of Dacia |
| passus, ūs, m. |
a step, pace; mīlle passuum, pl. mīlia passuum, a Roman mile |
| circuitus, ūs [circumeō], m. |
circumference |