Thread by @Arby_K

A dynasty ends in an assassination.

Without strong contenders, an aged, childless politician is elected as the new Emperor.

The future of a young new Empire hangs in balance.

Story in the evening ...

https://twitter.com/Arby_K/status/1414774301488685064

Marcus Cocceius Nerva was born around 30 AD to Marcus Cocceius Nerva and Sergia Plautilla. He came from a Roman noble family with ties to the imperial family and Nerva continued in the same vain becoming Praetor Elect in 65. 1/10

In 65, Nerva is supposed to have played an important role in revealing a conspiracy to assassinate Emperor Nero. But in 68, Nero got himself killed bringing the imperial dynasty to an end. Without an heir, the Empire plunged into chaos as different factions sought power. 2/10

With the collapse of Alexander's Macedon Empire after his death not that long ago serving as a reminder, Rome saw four Emperors attain power in 69 depending on their control of the city of Rome. Fortunately, the last one, Vespasian, managed to hold on to it for keeps. 3/10

With two adult sons, Vespasian, was seen as a more stable contender and thus the Flavian dynasty was born. Nerva soon found himself as the Consul of Rome, the technical joint Head of State for Rome, along side Vespasian in 71. 4/10

Nerva continued to be an influential politician returning to Consulship in 90, along with Domitian. Domitian was Vespasian's younger son and had become Emperor in 81 after Vespasian's elder son, Titus, died. 5/10

But Domitian was also unpopular. Though he worked to make the Empire an efficient system, his autocratic rule led to his undoing with his assassination in 96. This also led to another problem. With no surviving children, Domitian had no heir and the Senate was in a quandary. 6/10

In his 60s with no children, Nerva would have been an unlikely choice for the throne. But the Senate entrusted him with the imperium, perhaps looking at him as a stop gap arrangement hoping for a better ruler by the time Nerva died. 7/10

Though some of Domitian's excesses were reversed, the ones that worked were retained. Nerva also brought back trusted veterans and statemen from retirement like Sextus Frontinus, a former general put in charge of the Roman aqueducts. 8/10

But Nerva faced rebellions as well. Though he did not suppress them strongly, he adopted an heir to guide the future course of the Empire - Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, a general with links to the Flavians, Consul in 91 and whom Nerva had made Governor of Germania Superior. 9/10

Nerva died the following year in 98. A short reign, but one that prevented the chaos Rome saw after the death of Nero. Marcus Ulpius Trajanus became the Emperor and brought it to its greatest territorial extent, connecting the Persian Gulf to the Irish Sea. 10/10