Nerva (96 - 98CE)

Nerva (18 September 96 - 27 January 98CE). Marcus Cocceius Nerva Caesar Augustus was consul with Vespasian and Domitian. He was proclaimed emperor by the Senate upon the assassination of Domitian, but was an inept commander and lacked army support. Although he was considered a wise and moderate emperor, historians view him as a well-intentioned but weak ruler. A revolt by the Praetorian Guard in October 97 forced him to adopt Trajan as his heir. After his death from illness on January 27, 98, he was deified by Trajan. He was the first of the "Five Good Emperors."