16 months that saved the Roman Empire
Live, Learn, History: Who was Emperor Nerva?
Welcome back to our weekly history newsletter.
Over the next couple of weeks we’re going to look back at the Roman Empire and explore an interesting time known as the “Five Good Emperors”.
Rome had found itself collapsing from within. Leadership had faltered and paranoia and tyranny had taken over. Someone needed to take the reins and lead the empire back to prosperity. One wrong decision would end the empire.
The year was AD 96, and the Roman Empire was reeling under the reign of Emperor Domitian. Domitian was a cruel and paranoid ruler, infamous for his violent purges and his absolute control over the Senate.
His tyranny reached such heights that even the elites of Rome began to conspire against him. Finally, after 15 years of fear and oppression, Domitian was assassinated by members of his own household in a plot that included his own wife.
The empire was in danger of plunging into chaos. An atmosphere of fear and mistrust was everywhere. Rome’s enemies were waiting for any opportunity to strike. Who would lead Rome?
The senate turned to Marcus Cocceius Nerva for leadership.
Nerva was in his 60’s and had decades of experience in Roman politics. He was respected, even revered, for his moderation, wisdom, and loyalty to the Roman state.
But Nerva was never a man who sought power. He had lived his life serving under previous emperors and had a reputation as a capable administrator and legal expert.
Yet, despite his reluctance, Nerva accepted the position of emperor.
At 66 years old, he wasn’t a warrior or a conqueror, but he understood that Rome needed healing, not more bloodshed.
A small imperial forum built during Nerva’s reign was completed in AD 97.
Parts of it can still be seen in Rome today.
Upon taking the throne, his first acts were aimed at restoring trust and stability within the empire. He repealed some of Domitian’s harshest laws, released political prisoners, and worked to improve relations with the Senate.
His reign marked the end of the “Reign of Terror” under Domitian and brought a breath of fresh air to Rome’s government.
But ruling Rome wasn’t easy, and Nerva faced challenges.
The Praetorian Guard—the emperor’s personal bodyguard—had grown dangerously powerful, and they weren’t happy with the shift in leadership. They demanded retribution for Domitian’s death, and Nerva, fearing another violent upheaval, had no choice but to give in to some of their demands.
Despite these pressures, Nerva did something remarkable—he thought about Rome’s future. Recognizing that his age and lack of military experience might make him vulnerable, he made one of the most important decisions of his reign: he adopted Trajan, a respected and capable general, as his heir.
This was an act of genius. By choosing Trajan, Nerva ensured a smooth transition of power and laid the foundation for the future success of the Roman Empire.
This act of adoption became one of Nerva’s greatest legacies. Instead of passing power to a blood relative, as was common, he selected a successor based on merit and competence.
It was a wise and selfless move that would set a precedent for future emperors and contribute to the era of the "Five Good Emperors."
Though Nerva’s reign was brief—only lasting for about 16 months—his impact was profound.
He stabilized an empire that had been on the brink of collapse, and through his adoption of Trajan, he ensured that Rome would be led by strong and capable hands after his death.
Nerva passed away in January of AD 98, peacefully and with the empire still intact.
Further, he had set the foundation for over 80 more years of successful leadership establishing the golden years of the Roman Empire. A period of peace and stability no known as the “Five Good Emperors”.
Want to learn more about Nerva and the Roman Empire?
Check out these great museums to visit on your next visit to Rome, Paris, and London.
Capitoline Museums (Rome, Italy): This museum has artifacts and exhibits related to the Roman Empire, including information about Emperor Nerva.
The National Museum of Rome (Museo Nazionale Romano): This museum has several branches across Rome, displaying Roman statues, inscriptions, and other artifacts from the Roman Empire, including the time of Nerva.
Vatican Museums (Vatican City, Rome): The Vatican Museums hold vast collections of Roman art and history, including sculptures and relics from Nerva’s time.
The British Museum (London, UK): The museum holds Roman artifacts and exhibits that may provide insights into Nerva's reign.
Louvre Museum (Paris, France): The Louvre contains a Roman antiquities section, featuring statues, busts, and artifacts from the Roman emperors' era, including Nerva.
If you’re interested in visiting other Roman sites, check out our list of recommendation for you.
In the next newsletter, we’ll look at the impact that Trajan had on the Roman Empire. We’ll look at his rise to power and his accomplishments.
If your family vacations involve visiting historical places, you should subscribe to our weekly newsletter. Each week we’ll highlight historical events and the places you should visit to learn more about them.
Family travel is all about building lasting memories together. As a family, we’ve enjoyed exploring parks, historical places, and new cultures. Having these shared experiences has brought us closer.
As we’ve explored the world, we’ve enjoyed keeping track of the countries, US states, and cities we’ve visited. Based on this experience, I decided to build an app to help us keep track of our adventures. It’s a digital scrapbook of our travel memories.
The app is available for you to use. It’s currently free (for life) to those who join our Founding Families. If you’re interested, we’d love to have you join us.