Nerva came from an old senatorial family and was apparently a man of compromise, since prior to becoming emperor, he was friends with Nero while later he aided with his legal abilities both Emperor Vespasian, as well as Domitian. After the murder of the latter, conspirators along with the Senate elected him emperor. It is not surprising –   Consul Nerva was hard-working and enjoyed the opinion of a man who was able to unite people, and on top of that he was already 61 years old and was childless. The new emperor fulfilled all the expectations – he carried out lax moral policy, frugally managed the finances, rehabilitated prisoners accused of treason during the reign of his predecessor. However, his selection was not approved by the Praetorian Guard, whose rebellion was to be expected at any moment. When it had erupted in the year 97 A.D, the reasonable emperor preceded the facts and “adopted”, meaning appointed to the post of co-ruler and named as future emperor, the respected by the legions, Marcus Ulpius Traianus – the governor and legate of Upper Germania. In this way, with his prudence he avoided the possibility of a civil war. If that was not enough, in appointing Trajan his successor, he gave the empire one of its greatest Roman emperors.

Nerva’s short reign and frugal fiscal policy did not translate into construction activities. However, the Forum of Nerva (Forum Nervae), located between the Forum of Augustus and the Temple of Peace, whose scant remains can be admired at the outlet of via Cavour, is associated with his name. The arrangement was initially to honor the Flavian dynasty and its initiator Domitian (Forum Transitorium), but it was not finished until a year prior to Nerva’s death.