INTEGRATION AND POWER IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE: THE PROVINCE OF HISPANIA AND THE RISE OF TRAJAN

Abstract

In the late 1st century AD, Trajan became Emperor of Rome. As the first provincial to attain this position, the precedents leading up to this event warrant study. Consequently, this article seeks to understand the relationship between Hispania—Trajan’s province of origin—and Rome, spanning the period from the province's incorporation into the Empire to Trajan's rise to power. The study views the imperial world as a space of integration where Romans and provincials engaged in power dynamics, resistance, and the exchange of values—driven by military, economic, and social objectives. These interactions reinforced the leadership roles of both central and peripheral elites within the Roman world and solidified the imperial system's model, which was rooted in Rome's traditional conservative and oligarchic structures. Accordingly, this article examines the historiography of this subject through the lens of integration. The analysis indicates that, despite initially occupying a subordinate status, provincials were able to create conditions for their advancement through provincial economic growth and the progressive acquisition of citizenship rights. Through these achievements and an alignment with Roman values, Hispanic elites expanded their political participation beyond provincial boundaries and gained access to imperial power.