C. Manlius Valens, C. Antistius Vetus.
(A.D. 96 = a.u. 849 = First of Nerva, from Sept. 18th).
Nerva Caes. Aug. (III), L. Verginius Rufus (III).
(A.D. 97 = a.u. 850 = Second of Nerva).
Nerva Caes. Aug. (IV), Nerva Traianus Caes. (II).
(A.D. 98 = a.u. 851 = Third of Nerva, to January 27th).
C. Sosius Senecio (II), A. Cornelius Palma.
(A.D. 99 = a.u. 852 = Second of Trajan).
Nerva Traianus Aug. (III), Sex. Iul. Frontinus (III).
(A.D. 100 = a.u. 853 = Third of Trajan).
Nerva Traianus Aug. (IV), Sex. Articuleius Paetus.
(A.D. 101 = a.u. 854 = Fourth of Trajan).
C. Sosius Senecio (III), L. Licinius Sura (II).
(A.D. 102 = a.u. 855 = Fifth of Trajan).
Nerva Traianus Aug. (V), Q. Messius Maximus (II).
(A.D. 103 = a.u. 856 = Sixth of Trajan).
Suburanus (II), P. Neratius Marcellus.
(A.D. 104 = a.u. 857 = Seventh of Trajan).
Ti. Iulius Candidus (II), A. Iulius Quadratus (II).
(A.D. 105 = a.u. 858 = Eighth of Trajan).
L. Ceionius Commodus Verus, L. Cerealis.
(A.D. 106 = a.u. 859 = Ninth of Trajan).
C. Sosius Senecio (IV), L. Licinius Sura (III).
(A.D. 107 = a.u. 860 = Tenth of Trajan).
Ap. Trebonius Gallus, M. Atilius Bradua.
(A.D. 108 = a.u. 861 = Eleventh of Trajan).
A. Cornelius Palma (II), C. Calvisius Tullus (II).
(A.D. 109 = a.u. 862 = Twelfth of Trajan).
Clodius Priscinus, Solenus Orfitus.
(A.D. 110 = a.u. 863 = Thirteenth of Trajan).
C. Calpurnius Piso, M. Vettius Bolanus.
(A.D. 111 = a.u. 864 = Fourteenth of Trajan).
Nerva Traianus Aug. (VI), C. Iulius Africanus.
(A.D. 112 = a.u. 865=Fifteenth of Trajan).
L. Celsus (II), Clodius Crispinus.
(A.D. 113 = a.u. 866=Sixteenth of Trajan).
Q. Ninnius Hasta, P. Manilius Vopiscus.
(A.D. 114 = a.u. 867=Seventeenth of Trajan).
L. Vipsanius Messala, M. Pedo Virgilianus.
(A.D. 115 = a.u. 868=Eighteenth of Trajan).
L. Aelius Lamia, Aelianus Vetus.
(A.D. 116 = a.u. 869=Nineteenth of Trajan).
Quinctius Niger, C. Vipsanius Apronianus.
(A.D. 117 = a.u. 870=Twentieth of Trajan, to Aug. 11th).
A.D. 96 (a.u. 849)
1
After Domitian, the Romans appointed Nerva Cocceius emperor. The hatred felt for Domitian caused his images, many of which were of silver and many of gold to be melted down; and from this source large amounts of money were obtained. The arches, too, of which more had been erected to the late emperor than previously to any one man, were torn down. Nerva also released such as were on trial for maiestas and restored the exiles. All the slaves and freedmen that had conspired against their masters he put to death, and allowed that class of persons to lodge no complaint whatever against their masters. Others were not permitted to accuse anybody for maiestas or for "Jewish living." Many who had been sycophants were condemned to death, among whom was Seras [Lacuna] [
] the philosopher. Now, as a quite extraordinary disturbance arose from the fact that everybody was accusing everybody else, Fronto, the consul, is said to have remarked that it was bad to have an emperor under whom no one could do anything, but worse to have one under whom any one could do everything. Nerva, on hearing this, prohibited the future recurrence of such scenes. But Nerva, as a result of old age and sickness (which was always making him vomit his food), was rather weak.
2
He also forbade gold statues being made in his honor. He paid back to such as under Domitian had been causelessly deprived of their property all that was still found in the imperial treasury. To the very poor Romans he granted allotments of land worth in the aggregate fifteen hundred myriads, and put certain senators in charge of their purchase and distribution. When he ran short of funds he sold many robes and plate, both silver and gold, besides furniture, both his own and what belonged to the imperial residence, many fields and houses,--in fact, everything save what was quite necessary. He did not, however, haggle over the prices of them, and in this very point benefited many persons. He abolished many sacrifices, many horse-races, and some other spectacles, in an attempt to reduce expenses as far as possible. In the senate he took oath that he would not cause the death of any of the senators and he kept his pledge in spite of plots. And he did nothing without the advice of prominent men. Among his various laws were those prohibiting any one from being made a eunuch and from marrying one's niece. When consul he did not hesitate to take as his colleague Verginius Rufus, though the latter had been frequently saluted as emperor. [