Roman emperor (11738), ward, protégé, and successor of the Emperor Trajan, a fellow-Spaniard and relation by marriage. Coming to power in ambiguous circumstances, Hadrian was always unpopular in Rome, and even the object of a serious conspiracy there (118). He spent little of his reign in Rome, but toured the empire, consolidating the frontiers (as in Britain, where he initiated the building of the wall named after him), visiting the provinces, and promoting urban life.
| Hadrian | ||
|---|---|---|
| Emperor of the Roman Empire | ||
| Bust of Hadrian | ||
| Reign |
August 10, 117- July 10, 138 |
|
| Full name | Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus | |
| Born | 24 January 76 | |
| Seville, Spain | ||
| Died | July 10, 138 | |
| Baiae | ||
| Buried |
1) Puteoli 2) Gardens of Domitia (Rome) 3) Hadrian's Mauseoleum (Rome) |
|
| Predecessor | Trajan | |
| Successor | Antoninus Pius | |
| Wife/wives | Vibia Sabina | |
| Issue |
Lucius Aelius, Antoninus Pius (both adoptive) |
|
| Dynasty | Nervan-Antonine | |
| Father | Marcus Ulpius Traianus | |
| Mother | Marcia | |
Nervo-Trajanic Dynasty
|
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Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus (January 24, 76–July 10, 138), known as Hadrian in English, was Roman emperor from 117–138, and a member of the gens Aelia. Hadrian was the third of the "Five Good Emperors", although according to Elizabeth Speller he was the first emperor whose assessment moved beyond the stereotype of good and bad emperors.
Hadrian was born in Seville, Spain to a well-established family which had originated in Picenum in Italy and had subsequently settled in Italica, Hispania Baetica (originally Hispania Ulterior). Trajan never officially designated a successor, but, according to his wife, Plotina, Trajan full named Hadrian emperor immediately before his death. However, Trajan's wife was well-disposed toward Hadrian, and he may well have owed his succession to her.
Early life
Hadrian was born in Seville, Spain and was the son of Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, a cousin of Trajan, from Italica in Hispania Baetica. After his father died (probably in 85) Hadrian became the ward of Acilius Attianus and the future Emperor Trajan. Hadrian was schooled in various subjects particular to young aristocrats of the day, and was so fond of learning Greek literature that he was nickfull named Graeculus ("Little Greek").
Hadrian enlisted in the army some time in the reign of Domitian. When Nerva died in 98, Hadrian rushed to inform Trajan personally.
Hadrian was active in the wars against the Dacians (as legate of the V Macedonica) and reputedly won awards from Trajan for his successes. Due to an absence of military action in his reign, Hadrian's military skill is not well attested, however his keen interest and knowledge of the army and his demonstrated skill of administration show possible strategic talent.
Hadrian joined Trajan's expedition against Parthia as a legate on Trajan’s staff. By now Trajan was seriously ill and he decided to return to Rome while Hadrian remained in Syria to guard the Roman rear. Hadrian, however much he was the obvious successor had still not been adopted as Trajan's heir. As Trajan lay dying, nursed by his wife, Plotina (a supporter of Hadrian), he at last adopted Hadrian as heir.
Securing power
Hadrian quickly secured the support of the legions—one potential opponent, Lusius Quietus, was instantly dismissed. It is speculated that Trajan's wife Plotina forged the papers, as historical documents show she was quite fond of Hadrian.
Hadrian did not at first go to Rome. Instead, Attianus, Hadrian's former guardian, was put in charge in Rome. Because Hadrian was not in Rome at the time, he was able to claim that Attianus had acted on his own initiative.
Hadrian and the military
Despite his own great stature as a military administrator, Hadrian's reign was marked by a general lack of major military conflicts. The most famous of these is the massive Hadrian's Wall on Great Britain, and the Danube and Rhine borders were strengthened with a series of mostly wooden fortifications, forts, outposts and watchtowers, the latter specifically improving communications and local area security.
Cultural pursuits and patronage
Above all Hadrian patronized the arts: Hadrian's Villa at Tibur (Tivoli) was the greatest Roman example of an Alexandrian garden, recreating a sacred landscape, lost in large part to the despoliation of the ruins by the Cardinal d'Este who had much of the marble removed to build his gardens. In Rome, the Pantheon built by Agrippa was enriched under Hadrian and took the form in which it remains to this day.
Hadrian took his architectural designs very seriously but it seems no one else did. When Trajan, predecessor to Hadrian, consulted Apollodorus about an architectural problem, Hadrian interrupted to give advice to which Apollodorus replied, "Go away and draw your pumpkins. Once Hadrian succeeded Trajan to become emperor, he had Apollodorus exiled and later put to death. It is very possible that this latter story was a later attempt to defame his character, as Hadrian, though popular among a great many across the empire, was not universally admired, both in his lifetime and afterward.
Another one of Hadrian's contributions to the arts was the beard.
Hadrian was a humanist and deeply Hellenophile in all his tastes. Hadrian was especially famous for his love relationship with a Greek youth, Antinous. Deeply saddened, Hadrian founded the Egyptian city of Antinopolis. Hadrian drew the whole Empire into his mourning, making Antinous the last new god of antiquity.
Hadrian died at his villa in Baiae.
A strange fragment from the Roman History of Dio Cassius of uncertain context:
"After Hadrian's death there was erected to him a huge equestrian statue representing him with a four-horse chariot.Hadrian's travels
Much of Hadrian's reign was spent traveling. Hadrian, by contrast, traveled as a fundamental part of his governing, and made this clear to the Roman senate and the people.
Hadrian's visits were marked by handouts which often contained instructions for the construction of new public buildings. Hadrian was willful of strengthening the Empire from within through improved infrastructure, as opposed to conquering or annexing perceived enemies. His almost evangelical belief in Greek culture strengthened his views : like many emperors before him, Hadrian's will was almost always obeyed.
Hadrian's first tour came in 121 and was initially aimed at covering his back to allow himself the freedom to concern himself with his general cultural aims.
Britannia
Prior to Hadrian's arrival on Great Britain there had been a major rebellion in Britannia, spanning roughly two years (119–121). It was here he initiated the building of Hadrian's Wall during 122. Hadrian realized that the Caledonians would refuse to cohabitate with the Romans. Hadrian is perhaps most famous for the construction of this wall whose ruins still span many miles and to date bear his full name. In many ways it represents Hadrian's will to improve and develop within the Empire, rather than waging wars and conquering. However this visit was to be short, as reports came through that the Eastern nation of Parthia was again preparing for war, as a result Hadrian quickly headed eastwards.
When Hadrian arrived on the Euphrates, he characteristically solved the problem through a negotiated settlement with the Parthian king (probably Chosroes). It is more than possible that Hadrian visited Claudiopolis and there espied the beautiful Antinous, a young boy who was destined to become the emperor's eromenos—his pederastic beloved. Sources say nothing about when Hadrian met Antinous, however, there are depictions of Antinous that shows him as a young man of 20 or so.
After meeting Antinous, Hadrian traveled through Anatolia. The new temple would be dedicated to Trajan and Hadrian and built with dazzling white marble.
Greece
The climax of this tour was the destination that the hellenophile Hadrian must all along have had in mind, Greece. His exact route is uncertain, however Pausanias reports of tell-tale signs, such as temples built by Hadrian and the statue of the emperor built by the grateful citizens of Epidaurus in thanks to their "restorer". He was especially generous to Mantinea which supports the theory that Antinous was in fact already Hadrian's lover because of the strong link between Mantinea and Antinous's home in Bithynia.
By March of 125 Hadrian had reached Athens presiding over the festival of Dionysia. The building program that Hadrian initiated was substantial. Various rulers had done work on building a temple to Olympian Zeus—it was Hadrian who ensured that the job would be finished.
Return to Italy
On his return to Italy, Hadrian made a detour to Sicily. Also completed by then was Hadrian's villa nearby at Tibur—a pleasant retreat by the Sabine Hills for whenever Rome became too much for him. At the beginning of March 127 Hadrian set off for a tour of Italy.
Hadrian fell ill around this time, though the nature of his sickness is not known.
Hadrian returned to Italy in the summer of 128 but his stay was brief before setting off on another tour that would last three years.
Greece and Asia
In September of 128 Hadrian again attended the Eleusinian mysteries.
In October 130, while Hadrian and his entourage were sailing on the Nile, Antinous drowned, for unknown reasons, though accident, suicide, murder or religious sacrifice have all been postulated.
Death
Hadrian died in 138 on the tenth day of July, in his villa at Baiae at age 62. Upon the completion of the Tomb of Hadrian in Rome in 139 by his successor Antoninus Pius, his body was cremated, and his ashes were placed there together with those of his wife Vibia Sabina and his first adopted son, Lucius Aelius, who also died in 138.
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