Recap pages are Spoilers Off by default, so in all these pages all spoilers are unmarked. Proceed with caution. You Have Been Warned
"Marcus Ulpius Trajanus climbed the ranks of the legions while the Emperor Domitian’s tyrannical rule tarnished the Roman Empire’s glory. When circumstance elevates him to the throne as Emperor Trajan, he inherits a realm on the brink of disaster. Will resourcefulness, virtue, and military might be enough to save Rome and lead it to its historical zenith, or will the Roman Empire collapse four centuries before its time?"
Campaign Intro
Trajan is one of three campaigns introduced by the Age of Empires II DLC Return of Rome. It follows Marcus Ulpius Trajanus, commander of the Seventh Legion of Rome, who ruled from 98 to 117 AD and led wars against the Dacians and Parthians during his reign.
In this campaign, the player controls the Romans in their Age of Empires I form.
Scenarios
#1. Legates and Legions
#2. Roman Repute
#3. Heads Will Roll
#4. An Old Enemy
#5. Blood in the Water
The campaign shows examples of:
- Cosmetic Award:
- "Optimus Princeps" for completing the campaign.
- "Are You Not Entertained?" for completing "Legates and Legions" in less than 10 minutes.
- "I Am Legion" for defeating the Dacian Army in "Heads Will Roll".
- "You Have No Power Here" for losing less than 5 units to conversion in "An Old Enemy".
- Crazy-Prepared: In the outro to "Roman Repute", Trajan orders his best architects to build a bridge on the Danube River. That way, if Dacebalus shows hints of treachery, Trajan will have a direct route onto his kingdom.
- Married to the Job: Though Happily Married to his wife, Trajan never sired any children, viewing the empire itself as his family.
- My Country, Right or Wrong: In the intro to "Legates and Legions", Trajan mentions that the soldier's blood is the rich men's currency, however, as a Legionnaire, he must answer Rome's call.
- Off with His Head!: Dacebalus's head was cut and thrown to the dogs after his defeat in "Heads Will Roll".
- The Peter Principle: Averted as Trajan realized from the example of Emperor's past, that running an empire requires delegation.
- Protection Mission: "Legates and Legions" requires you to prevent Domitian from being destroyed.
- Small Role, Big Impact: Emperor Nerva appointed Trajan at the forefront of Rome due to a lack of inheritors at the intro to "Roman Repute", and is never mentioned again. However, at the end of "Blood in the Water", Trajan mentions in his deathbed that Nerva's act inspired him to find a similar solution to the heritage problem by proclaiming his cousin Hadrian as his successor as Rome's emperor.
- Tyrannicide: As told by the outro to "Legates and Legions", the Senators of Rome saw Domitian as an annoyance, especially when his paranoia began to rise. When they could bear it no longer, they executed him.
- Unwitting Instigator of Doom: Discussed by Trajan himself in his deathbed. He wonders, after leaving a bar too highly raised, if he's Rome's savior or its doom-bringer."Yet, at the same time, doubt and dread gnaw at me. Now that I have raised the bar, others will try and match it — and their vain ambition, conceit, and impossible expectations could drag Rome towards the same familiar decline from which I rescued it. Was I Rome's savior, or its doom?"
- Video Game Caring Potential: Preventing more than five units from being converted nets the achievement "You Have No Power Here".
- With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility: Trajan knows very well that leading an empire like Rome requires a lot of responsability, something he makes clear in the intro to "Roman Repute".
- Worthy Opponent: In the outro to "An Old Enemy", Trajan sees Osroes, the Parthian king, this way. He commends his formidable skill as "the envy of any leader", mentions that it pains him to fight against him. Finally, Trajan mentions that he sees Osroes not so different to him. In the intro to "Blood in the Water", he expects Osroes to be remembered by his brilliancy.
