Transition to Imperial Stability

After the murder of Emperor Domitian, the Roman Senate appointed Nerva as emperor, marking a shift from autocratic rule to a more stabilizing governance. Nerva, previously a respected senator, was seen as a compromise candidate to appease both the military and the Senate.

His accession ended the Flavian dynasty and began a period of relative peace and consolidation in the Roman Empire. Nerva adopted a policy of selective adoption for succession, establishing a precedent that influenced future emperors.

This transition helped restore confidence in the imperial system during a time of political unrest and set the stage for the era of the Five Good Emperors.