Roman Emperors: Hadrian

The Roman emperors were men who wielded enormous political influence on their world, often leading their troops into battle and extending the bounds of the empire to many different parts of the world. Although the position of emperor was initially occupied by Augustus and his descendants, this ended with the death of Nero, and control of the Empire passed through three different men before Vespasian founded the Flavian Dynasty. After the death of his second son Domitian, the title passed into the hands of the Nervan-Antonine Dynasty, which was comprised of several different but quite capable rulers. This article will provide a brief biography of Hadrian, one of the best-known of the "Five Good Emperors."

Family

Hadrian was part of the Nervan-Antonine Dynasty, and he was cousins with his predecessor Trajan, who was an enormously successful (both militarily and administratively) emperor. He had been adopted by Trajan in a system that began with the Emperor Nerva. He eventually married a woman named Faustina, although it was well-known that there was little love lost between them and that they were not at all close.

Reign

Under Hadrian's predecessor Trajan the boundaries of the empire had been expanded. According to The Chronicle of Roman Emperors, Hadrian, however, chose to consolidate the gains that his predecessor had made, and as a result her traveled extensively throughout the empire, building fortifications and ensuring that the borders of the empire remained stable. Perhaps the best-known example of this work is Hadrian's Wall, a large series of walls and fortifications located in the northern part of England.

Hadrian was also well-known for his love of and patronage of Greek culture, and he went to great lengths to show his appreciation of that antique civilization. He was not nearly as compassionate toward the Jews, however, and after a revolt he sacked the city of Jerusalem and expelled them, renaming the city.

Personal Life

According to David Potter in Emperors of Rome, Hadrian is also well-known for his lengthy love affair with a young man by the name of Antinous. The relationship between the two men was from all accounts incredibly strong, and it was clear that Hadrian clearly loved the youth. Sadly, however, Antinous drowned while the couple were visiting Egypt, possibly as a form of sacrifice. Hadrian was reportedly absolutely heartbroken at the death of his lover. Not only did he have numerous sculptures of Antinous created, but Hadrian also founded a city in honor of his love.

Succession

When Hadrian died, he followed the tradition already established and passed his powers on a man by the name of Antoninus Pius, who would then pass the power on to Hadrian's younger cousin, the later quite famous Emperor Marcus Aurelius.

Popular Culture

Although Hadrian has not been as represented in popular culture as some of the other emperors, he was nevertheless the subject of a powerful and very popular novel entitled The Memoirs of Hadrian, written by the French novelist Marguerite Yourcenar, which is told in the form of Hadrian's confession to his younger cousin Marcus Aurelius. This is definitely worth a read for those interested in the fascinating world of ancient Rome.

Sources
David Potter, Emperors of Rome.
Chris Scarre, Chronicle of the Roman Emperors.