TRAJAN, Roman emperor, born. The first non-Italian Roman emperor. His accomplishments were both martial and civic, including construction of the aqueducts, the restoration of the Appian Way and the building of the massive Forum of Trajan. According to Spartianus, he was a proud possessor of a paedogogium, a road-show harem of boys he took along with him on campaign, apparently for his and his officers’ pleasure.

His sexuality was never in question, only the stories used to illustrate his preferences. The monumental erection, the Column of Trajan, was Rome’s highly appropriate tribute to this, emperor, considered to have been one of the “good emperors.”