Imperial Stop Gap

-So Domitian was dead, and Nerva was now princeps of Rome.
   -Nerva had been an adviser to Domitian and the other Flavian emperors (and even as far back as Nero!), so he was a safe pick to be princeps by the Senate because he was old, had no sons, had stayed in the background during his career, and had no military experience.
      -He was also seen as a stop gap so that a proper emperor could be chosen to replace him once he croaked, since Domitian had been assassinated and no proper heir had been prepared.  So, essentially Nerva was basically a session emperor. 
   -For the first time since Augustus, the Senate felt like it had power again. 
   -Nerva immediately declared an end to "treason trials" and an end to the executions of senators.  Also, political prisoners were freed, confiscated property was returned, and many who were exiled were recalled.
      -However, although the Senate was happy, the Praetorian Guard and the provincial legions felt like they had been left out in the cold, especially since they had loved Domitian and couldn't believe that Nerva had pardoned his assassins.  In response, Nerva tried to give everyone a bonus in pay or something, but this didn't help to improve their opinion of him as little more than a puppet of the corrupt Senate.
-Nerva probably meant well with his economic policies (lower taxes, expanded social welfare programs, among a bunch of other stuff).
   -To support his various schemes, Nerva began issuing loans to those who wished to buy up property in Italy (with 5% interest) as the imperial treasury was running low.
      -However, the scheme just wasn't working quickly or efficiently enough, so Nerva set up a commission to figure out how to cut spending by getting rid of some of the fat.
         -The commission was actually a success and did manage to come up with some good ideas.
            -For example, Domitian had held so many game days an festival celebrations and shit to make everyone happy, but Domitian had been able to do this because taxes were so high.  When Nerva lowered the taxes, the games and festivals were way too expensive.  Therefore, the commission recommended that Nerva trim down the public celebrations to only the necessary religious holidays, which Nerva did.  The commission also recommended melting down all of his Domitian's gold statues and treasure and shit, which there were a bunch of.  They also held a public auction for all of his treasure, which he had hoarded the entire time he was in power.
-Unfortunately, because Nerva had made it clear that there would be no political purges to keep the Senate in line, it quickly devolved into political gridlock and corruption.
   -Nerva allowed this because the Senate were his only allies in terms of power.
      -Tyranny had been exchanged for anarchy!
         -Soon, because of the chaos everyone began to view Nerva as weak and inefficient as a leader.  It was obvious that he wasn't suited for the job.
            -A conspiracy to overthrow Nerva (led by a senator named Calpurnius Crassus) was uncovered, and even then Nerva refused to have the conspirators executed!
-97 AD- the Praetorians were realizing tat the situation was unraveling rapidly, so they began to plan a coup, seeing him as a spineless puppet of the Senate.
   -Led by the new prefect Casperius Aelianus led by the Praetorians in revolt against Nerva, besieged the imperial palace, and took Nerva hostage.
      -Fearing for his life, Nerva agreed to bring Domitian's killers to justice (in which he was successful), and was then forced to publicly thank the Praetorians for "reminding him to do his duty" (whoa!).
         -Nerva knew he was in bad shape and that if he didn't name an heir and were to die soon or lose power, then the empire would fall into chaos again.  So, he decided to choose an heir that was popular with the legions (in an attempt to get them on his side)- Marcus Ulpius Traianus (AKA Trajan), a legionary commander. 
            -This really helped alleviate the tension that had been mounting (except of course with the Senate, who liked that Nerva had no control over them).
-Trajan was born in the town of Italica in the province of Hispania Baettica (outside of modern-day Santiponce, Seville, Spain). 
   -His place of birth is important because Trajan would be Rome's first princeps that wasn't born in Italia.  However, it's unclear as to if Trajan's family were Romans (as in, from the city of Roman), native Iberians, or a mix.  However, it's obvious that they weren't a traditional patrician family (at least, not until Trajan's father became a senator under Vespasian and/or Titus before going on to become the governor of Syria in 76 AD). 
      -Family rose to prominence under the Flavian dynasty.
         -Because of the family (or at least Trajan with his father) relocating to Syria, Trajan eventually went on to serve as military tribune of the legions stationed in Syria, and soon began to quickly ascend the cursus honorum. 
            -Became praetor in 85 AD and was appointed as commander of the legions in Hispania Tarraconensis.  As commander, Trajan was a natural leader and brilliant tactician, and was very inspiring but also could be laid-back, strict but fair, etc. (i.e. quite versatile depending on the situation).  In this way he was very similar to Julius Caesar.  He was a great administrator, too.
               -Favored by Domitian due to to his (Trajan's) support during Saturninus' rebellion.         
   -At some point in the 90s AD Trajan married a noblewoman named Pompeia Plotina.
   -91 AD- Trajan was appointed consul and soon after served as governor in Moesia and Germania Superior.
   -98 AD- Trajan was named consul again, and Nerva died soon after (after having been in office for only 16 months).
      -Because he was so popular and the obvious next logical choice for princeps, Trajan became the next emperor of the Roman Empire!