 The situation was further aggravated by the absence of a clear successor , made more pressing because of Nerva 's old age and sickness . He had no natural children of his own and only distant relatives , who were unsuited for political office . A successor would have to be chosen from among the governors or generals in the Empire and it appears that , by 97 , Nerva was considering to adopt Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus , the powerful governor of Syria . This was covertly opposed by those who supported the more popular military commander Marcus Ulpius Traianus , commonly known as Trajan , a general of the armies at the German frontier . 
 The situation was further aggravated by the absence of a clear successor , made more pressing because of Nerva <a href='null_genetive' title='1'><mark>'s</mark></a>old age and sickness . He had no natural children of his own and only distant relatives , <a href='null_relcl' title='2'><mark>who</mark></a><a href='uninflect' title='3'><mark>were</mark></a> unsuited for political office . A successor would have to be chosen from among the governors or generals in the Empire and it <a href='uninflect' title='4'><mark>appears</mark></a> that , by 97 , Nerva was considering to adopt Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus , the powerful governor of Syria . This was covertly opposed by those <a href='null_relcl' title='5'><mark>who</mark></a>supported the more popular military commander Marcus Ulpius Traianus , commonly known as Trajan , a general of the armies at the German frontier . 
The situation was further blowed by da absence of a clear successor , made more pressing because of Nerva  old age and sickness . He had no natural children of his own and only distant relatives , was unsuited fir political office . A successor would gotta b chosen from among tdagovernors or generals in thdampire and it appear dat , by 97 , Nerva was considering to adopt Marcus Cornelius Nigrinus Curiatius Maternus , the powerful governor of Syria . This was covertly opposed by those supported thedare popular military commander Marcus Ulpius Traianus , commonly known as Trajan , a general of the armies at the German frontier .