Hadrian (117 - 138 AD)

Family and Background

Nephew of Trajan, he appears to have been marked out for the succession at an early age, but to have fallen from favor in the middle years of Trajan's reign. He was, however, strongly supported by Trajan's wife, Plotina, who is said to have engineered his adoption and succession as Trajan lay dying (there were runors that she did so in his name after he had died).

Principal Events (Foriegn)

Settlement with Parthia (117)
Defeat of northern British tribes (119)
Building of great defensive wall to mark the frontier in Britain (121-122)
Constructon of extensive fortified lines along the Rhine (121-122, probably)

Principal Events (Domestic)

Suppression of the great Jewish revolt (117)
Execution of four ex-consuls (and friends of Trajan) on charges of treason (117)
Return to Rome and funeral of Trajan (conversion of the column of Trajan into Trajan's tomb) (118)
Journey to Britain, Gaul, Germany and Spain (121-123)
Death of Plotina (122)
Journey to Greece and Asia Minor (123-125)
Return to Sicily and Italy (125)
Journey to North Africa, Greece, Asia Minor, Palestine and Egypt (128-134)
Foundation of the League of the Greeks at Athens (October, 128)
Death of Antinoos (Hadrian's lover) near Hermopolis in Egypt, foundation of cult in his honor (October 30, 130)
Outbreak of the Bar-Kockba revolt in Palestine (132)
Return to Rome (132)
Suppression of the Bar-Kockba revolt (135)
Execution of Pedanious Fuscus (heir apparent) and Servianus (his uncle, who played a role in both his and Trajan's accession) (136)
Death of L. Aelius Caesar (heir apparent)(137)
Adoption of Antoninus Pius who, in turn, was required to adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus
Death at Baiae (July 10, 138)

Outlines of Policy

Hadrian's reputation was mixed. The executions in 117 and 136 made

him deeply unpopular with the senate, so much so that Antoninus Pius had to fight to get the senate to agree to deify him. Many also thought that his passion for Antinoos exceeded the bounds of good taste. He was a tremendous lover of Greek culture, and greatly promoted the flourishing of Greek civic life in his reign. A tremendous traveller, he visited more of the empire than any other ruler, and initiated a new, defensive strategy for the defense of the Roman empire. He seems to have been a very able administrator, who showed real concern for the wellbeing of his subjects (including slaves), even though he was noted for a ferocious temper that he had some trouble keeping in check. His reign saw the last great flourishing of Latin letters, as exemplified by the works of Tacitus,

Juvenal and Suetonius (though both Tacitus and Suetonius were well launched on their literary careers before he took the throne).