76-138 C.E.
Emperor

Provincial Beginnings. Born in 76 into a family of Italian settlers who lived in Spain, Publius Aelius Hadrianus was educated in Rome, and after the death of his father, he came under the influence of a paternal cousin, the emperor Trajan. He served in political and military posts in the provinces, especially along the Danube and in Macedonia. He followed his patron into the upper echelon of imperial politics and even married his grandniece. Hadrian rapidly advanced to greater positions of power, gaining the consulate in 107, only to suffer a decade of lesser political appointments when he lost political favor after the death of Licinius Sura, a powerful supporter of Trajan.

On the Road. In 117 C.E., Hadrian inherited a stable and prosperous empire from his adoptive father, Trajan, but he departed from his predecessor's policy of rapid expansion and expensive...