Marcus Ulpius Traianus (senator)
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Marcus Ulpius Traianus Major (about 30 - before 100) (Latin: Major, "the elder") was a Roman senator who lived in the first century. He was the father of Emperor Trajan.
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[edit] Family
Traianus was a member of gens Ulpius. Traianus was originally from Spain, but is of Roman descent. His mother is unknown, however his paternal ancestors migrated from Italy and settled in Italica in the Roman Province of Hispania Baetica (Italica is near modern, Seville, Spain). His sister was called Ulpia Traiana, who would be the mother of praetor Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer (father of Roman Emperor Hadrian). Traianus married a Roman woman called Marcia. They had two children, a daughter called Ulpia Marciana and a son, the future Roman Emperor Trajan. He was the maternal grandfather to Salonina Matidia; a maternal uncle to praetor Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer and a great paternal uncle to future Roman Emperor Hadrian.
[edit] Career
Traianus was the first member of his family to enter the senate. Before 67, Traianus might have commanded a legion under the Roman General Gnaeus Domitius Corbulo. Under Vespasian (who was the Roman Governor of Judea), Traianus commanded the tenth legion legio X Frentensis during the First Jewish-Roman War between 67-68. During this time, he came into favor with the future emperor.
Due to his successes, Vespasian awarded Traianus with the governorship of an unknown Roman province and a consulship in 70. In later years, he served as a Roman Governor of Hispania Baetica, Syria, in 79 or 80 governed an unknown African province and then western Asia Minor. During his time in Syria, Traianus prevented a Parthian invasion.
[edit] Legacy
Traianus lived in his final years in honor and distinction and probably lived to see his son to become emperor. In 113, Traianus was deified by his son, and his titulature reads divus Traianus pater.
