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Hadrian Biography

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HADRIAN (PUBLIUS ÆLIUS HADRIANUS ) (76-138). A Roman Emperor (117-138 A.D.). He was born, according to some authorities, in Rome, according to others in Italica in Hispania Bætica. Under Nerva and even more during the reign of Trajan, who was his guardian, and with whom he was connected by marriage, he filled high offices in the state. He accompanied the Emperor in his wars against Decebalus (q.v.), where he distinguished himself by his bravery; and in 117, when Trajan set out on his return to Italy from the East, he was left behind as commander of the army and as governor of the Province of Syria. When the intelligence reached Antioch that Trajan had died in Cilicia on his journey home, Hadrian was proclaimed Emperor by the army (Aug. 11, 117 A.D.) and by the Senate. The state of the Empire at the time was extremely critical. Insurrections had broken out in Egypt, Palestine, and Syria; Mœsia in the east and Mauritania in the west were both invaded by barbarian hordes, while the Parthians had once more defied the Roman power and had won several successes over the Imperial forces. Hadrian, perceiving the advantage of a peaceful policy, wisely resolved to limit the boundaries of the Roman dominion in the East and concluded a peace with the Parthians, surrendering to them all the country beyond the Euphrates. A conspiracy against his life was repressed by the Senate. In 118 Hadrian returned to Rome and established his authority by liberality towards the people, in shows of various kinds and by liberal support of poor children, and by his considerate attitude towards the Senate. The Roxolani, who had made an inroad into Mœsia, were by large gifts induced to retire. In 119 he set out on his long travels, visiting Gaul, Germany, Britain (where he built the famous wall extending from the Solway to the Tyne), Spain, Mauritania, Egypt, Asia Minor, and Greece. He returned to Rome 126 or 127 A.D., and received the title of pater patriœ, after which he resumed his travels through the Empire. He spent the years 132 and 133 in Athens, for which city he had a great predilection. At this time occurred the great rising of the Jews under Bar-Cochba. After once more visiting Syria Hadrian returned to Italy and spent the last years of his life at Rome and Tibur (Tivoli). During the severe illness which caused his death, July 10, 138, at Baiæ, he was subject to violent outbursts of cruelty, to which, as well as to jealousy and pleasure, he was naturally addicted. After the death of Lucius Ceionius Commodus, whom he had adopted under the name of Lucius Ælius Verus, he appointed Titus Aurelius (afterward the Emperor Antoninus Pius) his successor. During his reign the army was vigorously disciplined and reorganized, while as a civil ruler he merits high praise for the just and comprehensive view he appears to have taken of his duties as a sovereign and for the many reforms he instituted in governmental matters, not only in Rome, but in the districts through which he traveled. To him is attributed, more than to any other, the consolidation of the monarchical system of Rome. Hadrian divided Italy into four districts, in charge of men of consular rank, to whom he intrusted the administration of justice. He erected numerous splendid edifices, the chief of which were, in Rome, the temple of Venus and Rome, the mausoleum called the Moles Hadriani (now called Castel Sant' Angelo), the Ælian Bridge leading to it, and the magnificent villa at Tibur. At Athens (q.v.) he completed and dedicated the famous temple of Zeus, the Olympieum. (See also HADRIAN, ARCH OF.) He likewise laid the foundations of several cities, the most important of which was Hadrianopolis (Adrianople). Hadrian was a lover of fine arts, of poetry, philosophy, and rhetoric. Consult: Merivale, History of the Romans under the Empire (8 vols., New York, 1890); Schurz, De Mutationibus in Imperio Ordinando ab Imperatore Hadriano Factis (Bonn, 1883); Lanciani, Ancient Rome in the Light of Recent Discoveries (Boston, 1889); Plew, Quellenuntersuchungen zur Geschichte des Kaisers Hadrians (Strassburg, 1890); Bury, The Students' Roman Empire (New York, 1893); Gregorovius, The Emperor Hadrian (Eng. trans., London, 1898); Sehultess, Bauten des Kaisers Hadrian (Hamburg, 1898); Kornemann, Kaiser Hadrian and der letzte grosse Historiker von Rom (Leipzig, 1905); Weber, Untersuchungen zur Geschichte des Kaisers Hadrianus (ib., 1908); Spartianus, The Life of the Emperor Hadrian (New York, 1908). For Hadrian's writings, consult Teuffel, Geschichte der römischen Litteratur (6th ed., Leipzig, 1913).