Nabatea was an Arabian kingdom which existed from the 3rd century BC to 106 AD, with Petra serving as its capital. The wealthy Nabateans survived a number of wars with the Greek kingdoms of the Levant, and they went on to form their own kingdom. During the 1st century BC, the kingdom reached the height of its power, but it was defeated in a war by the Roman Republic, and Rome recognized the Nabateans' independence after a compromise. In 106 AD, the last Nabatean king, Rabbel II Soter, died, and the Roman emperor Trajan annexed Nabatea as Arabia Petraea.