Chapters
| Name | Publius Aelius Hadrianus |
|---|---|
| Ruled as | Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus |
| Reign | 11 August 117 – 10 July 138 CE |
| Born | 24 January 76 CE |
| Died | 10 July 138 CE |
Hadrian was born on January 24, 76 CE in Italica (Spain) or Rome as Publius Aelius Hadrianus. He came (like Trajan) from Spain. He was related to the emperor – as the grandson of his aunt. When he lost his father, the future Emperor Trajan took charge of him. And so the young man climbed the career ladder; he was the commander of the troops fighting against the Dacians, later a consul, to finally get the governorship of Syria. He was the third of the so-called five good emperors.
Youth
He was the son of Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer and Domitia Paulina. His father was a senator and praetor who held his office mainly in Rome. The mother, in turn, came from a noble senatorial family with Spanish-Roman roots. Hadrian was thus brought up in a well-placed family. Familia originally came from Picenum in Italy, then settled in the province of Hispania Baetica (Hispania Ulterior during Republic) in the city of Italica – near the present-day Seville. In turn, “The History of August” tells that Hadrian was born in Rome. It seems, however, that the first version of the biography is justified. His only sister and siblings were Aelia Domitia Paulina, married to a triple consul, Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus.
At the age of 10, he lost his father and mother and was taken care of by the later Emperor Trajan and Publius Acilius Attianus (later Trajan’s praetorian prefect). Young Hadrian was brought up like other Roman patricians – carefully and comprehensively. The young man showed the greatest interest in Greek literature – hence his later nickname “Graeculus”. Hadrian made his last visit to his native Spain when he turned 14. Later, despite the fact that he travelled a lot, he never came to the city of Italica again.
In 100 CE Hadrian married Vibia Sabina (who was 12 at the time) – the granddaughter of the Emperor’s sister.
Hadrian was also known for his loving relationship over 30 years with Antinous, a Greek young man who accompanied the emperor on his travels. After Antinous drowned in the Nile, Hadrian deified it. The cult of Antinous lasted several centuries.
Hadrian also became famous in history as the first Roman emperor to wear a beard. This fashion was to last until the reign of Constantine the Great in the 4th century CE.
Offices
His first military post was a tribunate over the II Adiutrix legion. Later he transferred to legio I Minerva in Germania. When Emperor Nerva died in 98 CE, young Hadrian personally went to inform Trajan. In time, he also became the legate of the legion in Upper Pannonia and possibly the governor of this province.
Before assuming power, Hadrian held the following offices:
- decemvir stlitibus iudicandis;
- sevir turmae equitum Romanorum;
- praefectus Urbi feriarum Latinarum;
- tribunus militum legionis II Adiutricis Piae Fidelis (95 CE, Pannonia Inferior);
- tribunus militum legionis V Macedonicae (96 CE, Moesia Inferior);
- tribunus militum legionis XXII Primigeniae Piae Fidelis (97 CE, Germania Superior);
- quaestor (101 CE);
- ab actis senatus;
- tribunus plebis (105 CE);
- praetor (106 CE);
- legatus legionis I Minerviae Piae Fidelis (106 CE, Germania Inferior);
- legatus Augusti pro praetore Pannoniae Inferioris (107 CE);
- consul suffectus (108 CE);
- septemvir epulonum (before 112 CE);
- sodalis Augustalis (before 112 CE);
- archon Athenis (112/13 CE);
- legatus Syriae (117 CE);
In addition, Hadrian took part in the Dac War (as legate of the legio V Macedonica) and reportedly received awards from Trajan for his victories. Later, he also took part in the military campaign against the Parthians, in which he was legate to the emperor. He also replaced the governor of the Syria province, where he had an independent command.
It’s hard to clearly define what kind of commander Hadrian was. He participated in many campaigns, neither during the reign of Trajan nor during his imperium, but seems to have been familiar with military tactics and themes, and showed leadership and strategic skills.