Hadrian – 117-138AD

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Hadrian

117-138 AD

Born January 24th, 76 – Died 138 AD, Age 62

Publius Aelius Hadrianus, was born in Rome on January 24th, 76 AD although his family had settled in Italica (Spain) nearly 300 years prior when that region was first opened to Roman colonists. In 86 AD, Hadrian lost his father at the age of ten – Aelius Hadrianus, a cousin of Emperor Trajan (98-117AD). Hadrian, along with his sister Paulina, were placed under the care of two guardians, Acilius Attianus and the future Emperor Trajan.

At 15, Hadrian was pushed into a military career rather reluctantly. While he tended to prefer a life of extravagance and hunting, Trajan recalled him to Rome and appointed him judge in one of the inheritance courts. Soon after that, Trajan sent him off as an officer in the Second Legion, and he was later posted on the Danube while serving in the Fifth Legion.

Following the death of Emperor Nerva (96-98AD) in 98 AD and Trajan’s rise to the throne, Hadrian became a close friend of Trajan the Emperor, yet perhaps not close enough. Hadrian was the favorite of Trajan’s wife, the Empress Plotina. In 100 AD, Plotina proposed a marriage between Hadrian and Vibia Sabina, Trajan’s grandniece, by his sister Marciana. Although Trajan was opposed to this union, Plotina somehow won.

Hadrian’s career began with the help of the Empress Plotina. Eventually, Hadrian commanded the First Legion during Trajan’s Second Dacian War between 105 and 106 AD. His career finally began to bloom: Praetor in 106 AD, Governor of Pannonia in 107 AD, and Consul in 108 AD. In 114 AD, Hadrian was given the Governorship of Syria, which was an important position since Trajan was marching into war against the Parthians.

2 had caes

This Aureus was issued as Caesar Retroactively.

There was no clear sign that Trajan had intended Hadrian to be his heir and indeed there remained some serious doubts among contemporary writers of the day. Some even went as far as to accuse Plotina of forging documents after Trajan’s death, which showed that he had adopted Hadrian shortly before his death. Whatever the case, apparently some coinage was struck showing Hadrian taking the title of Caesar making him perhaps the first to use that title to designate the heir status.

Hadrian’s arrival in Rome was on July 9th, 118 AD. Hadrian entered the city of Rome eleven months after his succession to Trajan. His reign began with what became known as the “affair of the four consulars.” This was an incident when four ex-consul Senators were murdered on the charge that they were plotting the overthrow of Hadrian. It is not clear exactly what happened, but according to Historia Augusta, Hadrian’s autobiography (now lost) placed the blame on the Senate for ordering their executions without his approval. Hadrian even swore a public oath that he had nothing to do with the incident.

In 119AD, Hadrian also missed a commemorative for the 150th year anniversary of the Battle of Actium between Octavian (63-14AD) and Mark Antony (83-30BC) in what was really a proxy war funded by Cleopatra VII (51-50BC) of Egypt.

Perhaps because of this incident and the rumors that Trajan had not named Hadrian his heir, Hadrian focused on increasing his popularity with the plebs by canceling the public debt worth 900 million sestertii. The records of these debts were publicly burned in the Forum Trajanum illustrated on this sesterius This was an event which gained him public favor (see the burning of the tax debts tablet on the Plutei of Trajan and this sestertius of Hadrian.

Hadrian tax-amnesty anaglyphia Traiani of 118AD followed the similar tax-amesty of Octavian (Augustus 27BC-14AD) who also burned records of all debts before the battle of Actium wiping out debts before the civil war. Hadrian’s tax-amnesty benefited not just individuals with tax-debts, but also tax-farmers and public contractors, potentially a broad spectrum of equestrain and senatorial orders. Anyone who was a tax farmer or a contractor made guarantees on tablets forfeiting money is they failed to meet the guarantee. The Civil War had seriously impacted the flow of taxes; hence, these taxes were still owed to the state. A tax farmer guaranteed the taxes for a region, and they were responsible for collecting the taxes. Any excess was their profit. With the Civil War, tax collection came to a halt.

Traditionally, the state censors published a list of deadbeats who owed the state taxes at the treasury (aerarium). Hadrian’s tax amnesty was about 900 million sesterii. Historia Augusta recalls:

“Moreover, he [Hadrian] used every means of gaining popularity. He remitted to private debtors in Rome and in Italy immense sums of money owed to the privy-purse, and in the provinces he remitted large amounts of arrears; and he ordered the promissory notes to be burned in the Forum of the Deified Trajan, in order that the general sense of security might thereby be increased. He gave orders that the property of condemned persons should not accrue to the privy-purse, and in each case deposited the whole amount in the public treasury. He made additional appropriations for the children to whom Trajan had allotted grants of money.”

Historia Augusta, Hadrian (I.7.5-8)

Hadrian abandoned Trajan’s eastern conquests and planned to expand the Empire beyond the Euphrates River. Instead, Hadrian chose to revert back to Augustus’ policy of consolidating the frontiers already in Rome’s possession, which meant holding the natural borders of the Danube in the north and the Euphrates in the east. Hadrian did remove Roman authority in some of the areas Trajan had conquered. He also accrued to himself some powers traditionally held by the Senate. Moreover, according to the later Historia Augusta, he was the first emperor to use frumentarii, or official spies, to investigate his family and friends.

Hadrian’s travels

Hadrian’s travels around the empire. Between 119AD and the mid-130AD, the Hadrian traveled throughout the Roman Empire, visiting various provinces to take stock of his inheritance and calm the disquiet that had arisen in the later years of Trajan’s reign. His travels can be divided into two major episodes, and he struck coinage to commemorate these travels. This tour was designed to shore-up Rome’s northern borders and began around 119AD when Hadrian first visited the provinces of Gaul and Germania Inferior and Superior. Acilius Attianus, as prefect of the Praetorian Guard, directed affairs in Rome before Hadrian’s return. He ordered the summary executions of four senators of exalted, consular rank, who he perceived were threats to the security of Hadrian.

Hadrian crossed the Channel to Britannia where, during his stay, construction began of Hadrian’s Wall – a seventy-three-mile-long wall across the north of the province, the ruins of which still remain to this day. The Great Wall crosses England between the Tyne and the Solway Rivers. Much of this immense work (18′ high x 6′ to 10′ thick) still exists today. In AD 122-123, Hadrian spent time in Hispania, then traveled east to Asia Minor. The remainder of this first tour was spent in the Balkans and Greece, touring areas like Dacia and Achaea, before returning to Rome via Sicily in AD 126.

Hadrian’s major reform program appears to be directed at the fact there had been rumors that Trajan’s wife made him Emperor, not Trajan. Therefore, Hadrian also revised the administration of justice and finance and developed a permanent civil service. We also find coinage informing the people of the “restoration of Liberty” showing a woman with two children standing before Hadrian. This is most likely a reference to the freedom to make a will without the interference of the Emperor. However, it could also refer to Hadrian’s decision that the children of a Roman citizen by a slave mother should be regarded as free citizens. Hadrian did not enjoy the same Senatorial popularity as Trajan.

Hadrian’s other building projects are his magnificent Vlla at Tivoli covering 160 acres (65 hectares). We do know that Hadrian began conducting official duty from the villa, at least confirmed by an official letter that was sent from the villa in the summer of 125 AD. It was during the later years of his reign when we find that Hadrian was governing the empire from the villa. He clearly began using the villa as his official residence from about 128AD. Therefore, the Villa also housed large numbers of visitors and bureaucrats. Even after Hadrian died in 138AD, the Villa was used by subsequent emperors until Diocletian (284-305Ad), who engaged in restoration about 150 years later.

There is little doubt that Hadrian was one of the empire’s most capable Emperors. He had devoted his whole life to actually improving the state. His building projects included a magnificent arch constructed to show various hunting scenes. However, much of the sculpture from this arch was reused by the Senate to construct the Arch of Constantine I in Rome, which stands near the Colosseum. The hunting scenes were those of Hadrian’s, where his head was replaced with Constantine. Sadly, concerning the Triumphal Arch of Hadrian, all that remains today are several relief panels.

There are two identifiable Arches of Hadrian. There is the Arch of Hadrian in Jerash, Jordan. In addition, there is not much remaining of the Arch of Hadrian located in Athens, Greece.

Antinous

There is little doubt that Hadrian engaged in homosexual behavior. Historia Augusta criticizes him for not only his love of men but also his adulteries with married woman. There is also little doubt that he was not especially close with his wife Sabina, and rumors claimed that Hadrian even attempted to poison her. But of all the evidence that exists, perhaps the best is his love affair with Antinous, a man of great beauty. Antinous was Hadrian’s companion, who accompanied him to Egypt in 130 AD. Hadrian reported in his autobiography that Antinous fell from his boat into the Nile and drowned. Hadrian was so grief stricken, that not only were numerous sculptures and several coinage issues commissioned, but he also founded a city in Egypt on the spot where he died – Antinoopolis.

Hadrian, the master builder of Rome, ran into serious trouble when he attempted to rebuild Jerusalem in 132 AD. The city had remained largely destroyed following the first revolt of 66-74 AD concluded by Vespasian (69-79AD) and Titus (79-81AD). Hadrian had grand plans to build a new Graeco-Roman city in Jerusalem to be named Aelia Capitolina. A Temple to Jupiter was to be raised on the old site of the Great Temple of Solomon. Hadrian’s grand plans for Jerusalem led to what became his only war – the Second Jewish Revolt between 132 and 135 AD.

Simon Bar-Kochba led the revolt and they issued their own coins generally overstruck on existing coinage. Hadrian initially dispatched the the Governor of Britain to deal with the rebellion and finally he himself had to travel to Judaea. Finally, peace was restored in 135 AD only after 500,000 rebels had been killed. He issued a coin with the legend “ADVENT VI AVG IVDAEAE. ” Hadrian standing right, raising right hand and holding volumen in left, facing Judaea standing left, holding Patera in right hand and acerrum in left; at her feet, two small boys before her, one behind her, each holding a palm frond; between them, lighted altar.

In 136 AD, Hadrian found himself at the age of 60, with his health starting to fail. Lacking a son, Hadrian turned to Lucius Ceionius Commodus and adopted him late during the year of 136 AD. His name was changed to Lucius Aelius Caesar and in 137 AD a series of portrait coinage of Aelius was issued along with a large donative (300 million sesterii) to the legions in hopes of securing their support. Unfortunately, Aelius died suddenly of tuberculosis in 138 AD.

Hadrian then turned to Antoninus Pius (138-161 AD) and adopted him as his heir on February 25th, 138 AD. However, Antoninus was 51 years old and an honorable Senator who was clearly not ambitious. By choosing him, Hadrian may have secured the throne for his 16 year old nephew who ultimately succeeded Antoninius – the future Emperor Marcus Aurelius (161-180AD).

Hadrian suffered greatly from an illness described as dropsy. He reportedly attempted suicide several times, but his servants refused to aid him. He finally turned over the government affairs to Antoninus Pius and departed Rome for the resort at Baiae, where he died on July 10th, 138 AD. Hadrian was buried in his mausoleum, which was later converted into the Castle of Saint Angelo.

Titles and Powers, 117-138 AD

AD Tribunician Power Imp. Acclamatior, Consulship Other Titles
117 TR.P. IMP. COS. AVGVSTVS. P.M.
118 TR.P. – TR.P.II. COS.II.
119 COS.III.
120
121 TR.P.IIII. – V.
122 TR.P.V. – VI.
123 TR.P.VI. – VII.
124 TR.P.VII. – VIII.
125 TR.P.VIII. – VIIII.
126 TR.P.VIIII. – X.
127 TR.P.X. – XI.
128 TR.P.XI. – XII. P.P.
129 TR.P.XII. – XIII.
130 TR.P.XIII. – XIIII.
131 TR.P.XIIII. – XV.
132 TR.P.XV. – XVI.
133 TR.P.XVI. – XVII.
134 TR.F.XVII. – XVIII.
135 TR.P.XV’III. – XVIIII. IMP.II.
136 TR.P.XVIIII. – XX.
137 TR.P.XX. – XXI.
138 TR.P.XXI. (-XXII?)

The precise date of renewal for Hadrian’s tribunician power is not known, but it was most likely some time during August.

Hadrian was the first Roman Emperor to have himself portrayed with a beard. This is most likely due to his great love of Greek Art and culture.

Mints: Rome; Asia Minor probably Ephesus, Sardes, Smyrna, and other mints).

Obverse Legend:

HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS
HADRIANVS AVGVSTVS P P
HADRIANVS AVG COS III P P
IMP CAESAR TRAIAN HADRIANVS AVG
IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG
IMP CAESAR TRAIANVS HADRIANVS AVG P M TR P COS III

DENOMINATIONS

AU Aureus (6.54 grams)
AU Quinarius (4.61 grams)
AR Cistophorus (10.9 grams)
AR Denarius (3.25 grams)
AR Quinarius(1.5 grams)
Æ Sestertius (25 – 30 grams)
Æ Dupondius (13.75 grams)
Æ As (11 grams)
Æ Semis (4 – 5 gams)
Æ Quadrans (2.35 – 3 grams

Posthumous Coinage

Note: Perhaps because Hadrian was a homosexual, his successor, Antoninus, was Pius. This is also where Hadrian’s posthumous coinage tends to be perhaps the rarest of most emperors. They were clearly not produced in any sufficient quantity.

AU Aureus (7.32 grams)
AR Denarius (2.82 grams)

Hadrian’s Travel Series

RESTITVTORI ACHAIÆ

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

ÆGYPTOS

AU Aureus
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt)
AR Denarius (Laur hd rt)
AR Denarius (Bare hd rt)
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

AFRICA

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI AFRICÆ

AU Aureus
AR Denarius (Laur hd LEFT)
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI ARABIÆ

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

ALEXANDRIA

AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

ASIA

AR Denarius

RESTITVTORI ASIA

Æ Sestertius

BRITANIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI BITHYNIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

CAPPADOCIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

DACIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI GALLIÆ

AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

GERMANIA

AR Denarius

HISPANIA

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI HISPANIAE

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

ITALIA

AR Denarius
AR Denarius

RESTITVTORI ITALIÆ

AU Aureus
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

JUDÆA

Æ Sestertius

RESTITVTORI LIBYA

Æ Sestertius

RESTITVTORI MACEDONIÆ

AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

MAVRETANIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI NICOMEDIA

Æ Sestertius

NILVS

AU Aureus
AR Denarius
AR Denarius
Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI PHRYGIÆ

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

SICILIA

Æ Sestertius

RESTITVTORI SICILIA

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

RESTITVTORI ORBIS TERRARVM

Æ Sestertius
Æ Dupondius
Æ As

Colonial

CAESAREA, CAPADOCIA

AR Didrachm (Caesarea-Eusebia) Laur hd rt/Tyche seated left (6.15 grams)
AR Didrachm (Caesarea-Eusebia) Laur hd rt/Mt Argus
AR Drachm (CÆsarea) (Laur hd rt/Mt Argaios 3 stars) (2.93 grams)
AR Drachm (CÆsarea) Greek legends Laur hd left
AR Hemidrachm (Caesarea-Eusebia) Hd rt/Nike adv r, holding wreath (1.63 grams)