Leadership can be defined as “the process of influencing people by providing purpose, direction, and motivation as they work to accomplish the mission and improve the organization.” Although the wording comes from the U.S. Army leadership manual, the same principles applied to men who served in the Roman army, whether in the Republic or Empire. From 508 BC to 1453 the Romans would be considered a “superpower” in the world with “all roads” leading to Rome as the ancient proverb explains. A superpower with a strong military is maintained, and Rome was no exception. During his reign, Rome saw a vast number of generals and leaders who would distinguish themselves over time. Three of these leaders would be Trajan, Marius, and Scipio Africanus. These three generals would have a great impact on the Roman army and the assertion of their power. Marco Ulpius Trajan “was not a Roman aristocrat but a Spaniard from distant Italica (now Seville). Trajan dreamed of leading soldiers like his father before him, but “could hardly dream of sitting on the throne of Caesar himself.” Trajan took power in 98 AD and, unlike some of his predecessors, “dreamed of military fame in the service of Rome”. Trajan saw Dacia as "the greatest threat to the Roman Empire apart from the kingdom of Parthia". The Dacians (ancient Romania) were challenging Roman power in the region under King Decebalus and "previous treaties had proved unsatisfactory". Trajan personally went to the Danube region to conduct reconnaissance before committing his troops to the task; he realized that the infrastructure in the region and staging areas would make his soldiers vulnerable to attack. Trajan chose sites that could handle bridges and cut twelve miles of road... center of map... Goldsworthy, Adrian, The Fall of Carthage, London, Phoenix, 2000. Lacey, James. "Rome's most cunning general SCIPIO AFRICANUS." Military History 24, no. 5 (2007): 56-61,4 http://search.proquest.com/docview/212615844?accountid=8289.Mackay, Christopher, Ancient Rome: A Military and Political History, Cambridge, Cambridge University Press, 2004.Matthew , Christopher. "The Battle of Vercellae and the Alteration of the Heavy Javelin (Pilum) of Gaius Marius – 101 BC." Antittono 44, (2010): 50-67. http://search.proquest.com/docview/807643445?accountid=8289.Munro, Richard K. “The Last Great Roman Conqueror.” Military History 18, no. 6 (2002): 22-28. http://search.proquest.com/docview/212663606?accountid=8289.Tada, Richard. "TRAJANS The Last Conquest." Military History 24, no. 8 (2007): 44-49.4. http://search.proquest.com/docview/212673062?accountid=8289..