Nerva became Roman emperor after Domitian was assassinated in 96 CE.
Born Marcus Cocceius Nerva, he was a respected senator who was proclaimed emperor on 18 September 96. His accession ended the Flavian dynasty, which had begun with Vespasian in 69 CE.
Nerva’s short reign is often remembered as a transition between Domitian’s authoritarian rule and the more stable era of the so-called Five Good Emperors. He released some political prisoners and limited certain abuses, but the army remained dissatisfied with his government.
To secure the succession, Nerva adopted the popular general Trajan as his son and heir in 97 CE. Nerva died in January 98 CE, and Trajan succeeded him. A common mix-up is to identify Trajan as Domitian’s immediate successor; Nerva ruled between them.