Hadrian was a Roman emperor known for building Hadrian’s Wall in Britain. He was a patron of the arts, oversaw a peaceful period in Roman history, and preferred the company of a male companion. He chose Antonius Pius as his successor.
Hadrian was emperor of Rome from AD 117-138. He is perhaps best known for building a defensive wall in Britain, known as Hadrian’s Wall; the wall was designated a United Nations World Heritage Site in 1987. Hadrian however has numerous other accomplishments to his name, which have led people to rank him among Rome’s “Five Good Emperors”.
Hadrian’s full name is Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus and he was born in AD 76. There is some dispute over the place of his birth, with most historians agreeing that he was born in Hispania, now known as Spain, while Hadrian himself claimed that he was born in Rome. Hadrian’s insistence on Roman birth may have been more related to his desire to appear as Roman as possible, however, as many Romans discriminated against people born in the remote reaches of the Empire.
He ascended the throne following a deathbed request from the previous emperor, Trajan. Historians believe that Hadrian owes his succession to Trajan’s wife, who is said to have been fond of Hadrian, and it is certainly possible that she paved the way for the throne. As ruler, Hadrian proved to be relatively peaceful, with a defensive, rather than an offensive, approach to the care of the Roman Empire, and the period of Roman history he oversaw is characterized by a notable flourishing of the arts and a general sense of peace.
Hadrian was certainly among the most cultured and learned of the Roman emperors, and was a great patron of the arts, especially architecture. His intense interest in Greek culture manifested itself in a fondness for classical statues and architecture, and he oversaw the construction of an assortment of buildings, including the Pantheon in Rome and numerous temples. He also spent a lot of time traveling during his time as emperor, spending more time outside Rome than in it.
Although Hadrian had a consort, Vibia Sabina, the couple was childless and historical accounts suggest that their relationship was quite stormy. Hadrian preferred the company of a male companion, Antinous, who drowned under mysterious circumstances on the Nile in AD 130. Ultimately, Hadrian settled on Antonius Pius as successor, after the death of Aelius Caesar, his first choice. Antonio Pio was also known to be a relatively peaceful ruler with great loyalty to Hadrian, as his nickname “Pius” implies.
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