Marcus Cocceius Nerva

Nerva

 in full Nerva Caesar Augustus orig. Marcus Cocceius Nerva

(born c. AD 35—died Jan. 28, 98) Roman emperor (96–98), first of the Five Good Emperors. A member of a distinguished senatorial family, Nerva served twice as consul (71, 90). After an undistinguished career, he was chosen to succeed Domitian because of his age, dignity, and lack of children who would succeed him. He rejected Domitian's autocratic tyranny but completed Domitian's building projects and instituted his administrative and financial reforms. He adopted Trajan as his heir.

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Nerva, Marcus Cocceius 

Born A.D. 30 or 35; died 98. Roman emperor from 96.

The first of the Antonine emperors, Nerva came from an old senatorial family. During his reign, prosecutions for lèse majesté —very frequent under Nerva’s predecessor, Domitian—were ended, taxes were reduced, and the alimenta (a system of state support of poor children and orphans) were introduced. In addition, an agrarian law was passed according to which 60 million sesterces’ worth of land plots were distributed among the poorest citizens.