Nerva's Novelty: Adopted Emperor or Imported Instability?

January 98 AD

Rome

Salve, Romans! It's your trusty scribe, Clickbaiticus Historius here, offering up another tasty morsel of truth in our glorious empire.

So, let's get straight to it - Nerva has gone and done it! Yes, friends, our esteemed Emperor has chosen a successor - Trajan, a Spaniard.

Now, before we all get our togas in a twist, let's take a deep breath. Nerva has always been a bit unpredictable, hasn't he? Remember the time he tried to introduce that new tax on olive oil? We all knew how that turned out!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not one to deny foreign flavors can add a little spice to our Roman stew, but an emperor? That's the meat and potatoes, folks, and I'm not sure imported Iberian ham is quite what we need on our plate.

Born in Italica, in the province of Hispania Baetica, Trajan comes to us not from the heart of the empire, but from its outer reaches. Is this a stroke of genius from Nerva, or just another olive-pit waiting to trip us up?

Nerva, bless his heart, has a habit of going off the beaten path. His "adopted" route to succession, bucking tradition for a more "democratic" approach, makes me scratch my head. I mean, let's be real here, Nerva isn't exactly known for his democratic leanings. Is this just another ploy to throw us off the scent of whatever he's brewing in his imperial cauldron?

The real question, dear readers, is this: Is Trajan an adopted emperor or just a fancy way of importing instability into our beloved Rome?

Nerva assures us that Trajan is the best man for the job, and maybe he is. He's a military man, after all, and we all know Rome loves a good soldier. But isn't it a bit like inviting a wolf to guard the sheep?

We're all in for an interesting time, Romans. Let's just hope Nerva's novelty doesn't turn out to be a colossal mistake. Let's hope this imported emperor is not the first sign of a crumbling empire.

So, keep your swords sharp and your wits sharper, my fellow Romans. In the meantime, I'll be here, serving up the truth with a side of spicy satire, and watching the grand spectacle that is our empire.

Because, let's face it, who needs the Colosseum when you have Nerva's court for entertainment?

Ad astra, Romans!

Clickbaiticus Historius