2. Introduction
S Known as a travelling
emperor, Hadrian was one of the most
appreciated emperors in the history of
Rome.
S A just ruler and the driving force behind
many architectural projects all over the
empire.
S He succeeded Trajan as the fourteenth
emperor.
3. Young Hadrian
S Born in the year 76, possibly in Italica
Hispania, as Publius Aelius Hadrianus.
S When he was 14 he moved to Rome.
S His first military service was as Tribune
under Trajan.
S Later, he was declared successor to
Trajan, according to sources, thanks to
Trajan’s wife.
S
Anyways, Trajan trusted him more than
enough and respected him even more.
4. The Wanderer
S For better part of his reign (12 years out of 21), he was
absent from Rome, travelling all over the provinces:
S Overseeing the administration: he was concerned with all
aspects of government and justice.
S and checking the discipline of the army: his devotion to the
common soldier was such, that as his predecessor, he
would eat, sleep and march along with them.
5. As a Ruler
S Considered by many historians to be wise
and just.
S Schiller called him “the empire’s first
servant”
S Gibbon admired his “vast and active
genius”.
S He forbade torture, and even though he
did not end slavery, he mitigated it.
S Public works were built:
libraries, aqueducts baths and theaters!
6. “Peace through Strength”
S He surrendered Trajan’s conquests in
Mesopotamia, because they were
indefensible.
S He chose not to engage in any major
military conflicts.
S Only the Second Roman-Jewish
war.
S Hadrian avoided war with Parthia
S Focused mainly on securing the
borders by building
watchtowers, fortresses, outposts and
improving communications.
7. Building Projects
S His longest lasting legacy were
his building projects.
S He established cities along the
Balkans, Egypt, Asia
Minor, Greece (his love for
Greece was such that he was
nicknamed Graeculus).
S In Rome he rebuilt the
Pantheon and finished Trajan’s
Forum; among many
baths, villas and other
buildings.
S Some of these structures still
stand today!
8. Hadrian´s Wall
S His most significant architectural
achievement is definitively the wall in
Britain, which carries his name.
S Built in the year 122, when he visited
Britain, it marked the northern border
or the empire in the British isles.
S
It wasn’t built only as protection, but
also as a show of Roman power.
S Around it, small merchant towns
developed and gave a sense of
security for Romans and Britons alike.
S It represented his “peace through
strength policy”.
9. Castel Sant’Angelo
S His tomb was nothing short of a marvelous work of
architecture.
S Castel Sant’Angelo is a towering cylindrical building in
Rome, Italy. It was initially commissioned by the Roman
Emperor Hadrian as a mausoleum for himself and his family.
S The building was later used by the popes as a fortress and
castle, and is now a museum.
S The Castel was once the tallest building in Rome!
11. Hobbies and Fun Facts
S We know a lot about Hadrian’s “extra
curricular” activities.
S He loved architecture, even
though, apparently he only had good
taste, but was not good at it.
S He wrote poetry and also an autobiography.
S Hadrian loved hunting since he was a small
kid.
S He also made the beard popular in Rome!
S This was due to the influence of Greek
12. Final Days
S He spent most of his final days in
Rome.
S After 21 years of being an
emperor, he died apparently of a
heart attack in the year 138, and left
Antoninus Pius as his successor.
S He was buried at his mausoleum!
