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The empire is at its largest when Trajan dies

117 CE, Asia Minor. An event.

Where and when

117 CEAsia Minor

1,909 years ago

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, Asia Minor

Trajan conquers Dacia and pushes into Mesopotamia. When he dies, the Roman Empire covers more land than it ever will again.

Background: Trajan, Wikipedia (opens en.wikipedia.org)

Why it matters

Trajan's reign saw one of the greatest military expansions in Roman history, leaving the empire at its maximum territorial extent.

Based on Wikipedia: Trajan

He was a philanthropic ruler and a successful soldier-emperor who presided over one of the greatest military expansions in Roman history, during which, by the time of his death, the Roman Empire reached its maximum territorial extent.

Wikipedia, Trajan (opens en.wikipedia.org), as of 2026-09-18. Text CC BY-SA 4.0. Our line is checked against these sentences only.

Related moments

In time order, with this one in its place. Each says why it is here.

  1. 47 BCE163 years earlier Caesar's three words, as Plutarch tells it Also in Asia Minor
  2. 41 BCE157 years earlier Plutarch on Cleopatra's charm Also in Asia Minor
  3. 41 BCE157 years earlier Cleopatra sails to Antony, in Plutarch Also in Asia Minor
  4. set in c. 83 CEabout 34 years earlier Calgacus on freedom, as Tacitus wrote it Also about war and empire
  5. 117 CEThis momentThe empire is at its largest when Trajan dies
  6. c. 115–120 CEDuring it Tacitus on writing without bitterness Same years
  7. 122 CE5 years later Hadrian's Wall is begun across northern Britain Also about war and empire

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