Trajan served as a general of the Roman army under both Domitian and Nerva before he became emperor. He fought in the Dacian Wars, winning, and in the Parthian Campaign, which he lost. Trajan was born in Spain, being the first emperor born outside Rome. This pretty much meant to the rest of the empire that the wealthy class was eligible for for the office. The empire was the largest it would be, spreading from the southern borders of Scotland to Iraq and Iran. Trajan was one of the few emperors to satisfy both the senate and the army and the people. He was also one of the first rulers not to persecute the Christians. Trajan actually gave out cash during some of the festivals, and also built up more aqueducts and bridges and roads. Overall, Trajan was a good emperor, and set the standards for future emperors of Rome.