2. Early Life
Full name is Publius Aelius Hadrianus
Born in 76 A.D. to a wealthy Roman family
Parents died in 86 A.D.
Raised by Trajan and Acilius Attanus
7. Career Before Emperor
Military Tribune
Quaestor
Staff Officer
Legionary Commander
Governor or Lower Pannonia
8. Career Before Emperor
Military Tribune
Quaestor
Staff Officer
Legionary Commander
Governor or Lower Pannonia
Consul
9. Ascension to the Throne
When Nerva dies, Trajan becomes emperor
Trajan dies in A.D. 117 and leaves a letter
nominating Hadrian as the next emperor
Trajan Nerva
11. Reforms
Slavery
Approved of slavery but thought slave
owners were too cruel
Removed the right to kill slaves
Forbid people to force their slaves to be
gladiators or prostitutes
Abolished slave-labor camps
12. Hadrian’s Travels
Spent most of his time traveling
Traveled broadly to visit as much of his empire
as he could
T ried to strengthen the empire from within
instead of through conquest
Brought the “Frumentarii” with him
13. Military
Withdrew soldiers from Mesopotamia
Consolidated boundaries
Euphrates River
Hadrian’s Wall
Never fought a war of aggression
Very few major conflicts
14. Hadrian’s Wall
Wall built across Britain
80 miles long, 20 feet tall
Purpose of the wall is unclear
Symbol of power
Separate from British
15. Personal Life
Married Vibia Sabina
Had one son, Antinous
Close to Pompeia Plotina
Relied on her advice
for several years
Vibia Sabina
16. Portrayal in Art & Literature
Generally portrayed positively
Humble, modest, and kind
Historia Augusta
Aurelius Victor
Eutropius
Cassius Dio
17. Downfall
Lost the support of the senate
Died in 138 A.D.
Forced the senate to accept the names
of the next two emperors
Antonius Pius
Marcus Aurelius
