A Dictionary of Greek and Roman biography and mythology. By various writers. Ed. by William Smith. Illustrated by numerous engravings on wood.

.320 HADRIANUS. HADRIANUS.
Trajan's second expedition against the Dacians, he was surely'wise to give up what could not be
entrusted to Hadrian the command of a legion, maintained. He therefore renounced all the conand took him with him. Hadrian distinguished quests which his, predecessor had made east of the
himself so much by his bravery, that Trajan re- Euphrates; he restored Mesopotamia and Assyria
warded him with a diamond which he himself had to the Parthians, and recognised Cosrhoes, whom
received from Nerva, and which was looked upon Trajan had deposed, as their king; while he inas a token.that Trajan designated him as his demnified Parthamaspater, whom Trajan had made
successor. In A. D. 108 Hadrian was sent as king of the Parthians, by assigning to him a small
legatus praetorius into Lower Pannonia; and he neighbouring kingdom. Armenia, moreover, was
not only distinguished himself in the administra- raised to the rank of an independent kingdom.
tion of the province, and by the strict discipline he While engaged in making these arrangements, he
maintained among the troops, but he also fought is said to have been advised by Attianus to put to
with great success against the Sarmatians. The death Baebius Macer, praefect of the city, Laberius
favourable opinion which the emperor entertained Maximus, and Frugi Crassus, either because they
of Hadrian on this account was increased through opposed his accession, or because they were otherthe influence of Plotina and Licinius Sura, a wise hostile towards him; but it is added that
favourite friend of Trajan; and Hadrian was made Hadrian rejected this advice, though Frugi Crassus
consul suffectus for the year 109; nay, a report was afterwards killed, but without the emperor's
was even spread that Trajan entertained the thought command. Lusius Quietus, who at the time had
of adopting Hadrian, and of thus securing to him the command in Mauritania, but was suspected of
the succession. After the death of Licinius Sura, an attempt to place himself at the head of the RoHadrian became the private secretary of Trajan; man world, was deprived of his post, which was
and the deference paid to him by the courtiers given to Marcius Turbo, who, under Trajan, had
now increased in the same proportion as the reduced the rebellious Jews, and was a personal
intimacybetween him and the emperor. Through friend of Hadrian.
the influence of Plotina, he obtained in A. D. 114 After having settled thus the most urgent affairs of
the office of legate during the war against the Par- the empire, he went from Antioch to Cilicia, to see
thians; and in 117 he. became consul designatus the bbdy of Trajan, which was to be conveyed to
for the year following. It is said that at the same Rome by Plotina, Attianus, and Matidia. Soon
time he was promised to be adopted by the em- after his return to Antioch he appointed Catilius
peror; but Dion Cassius expressly denies it; and Severus governor of Syria, and travelled to Rome
the further remark, that he was designated only in A. D. 118. A triumph was celebrated to comconsul suffectus, seems to show that Trajan, at memorate the victories of Trajan in the -east, and
least at that time, had not yet made up his mind as the late emperor's image was placed in the triumto his adoption. phal car. The solemnity was scarcely over when
While Trajan was carrying on the war against Hadrian received the news that the Sarmatae and
the Parthians, in which he was accompanied by Roxolani had invaded the province of Moesia. He
Hadrian, and while he was besieging the town of forthwith sent out his armies, and immediately
Hatra, he was taken severely ill. He placed Ha- after he himself followed them. The king of the
drian at the head of the army and the province of Roxolani complained- of the tribute, which he had
Syria, and returned- to Rome; but on his way to receive from the Romans, not being fully paid;
thither he died, at Selinus, in Cilicia. Now it is but Hadrian concluded a peace with him, for which
said, that on the 9th of August, 117, Hadrian re- he had probably to pay a heavy sum. After this
ceived intelligence of his adoption by Trajan, and was settled, it appears that IIadrian intended
on the 11th the news of his death; but this state- marching into Dacia to attack the Sarmatians,
ment is contradicted by Dion Cassius, who renders when he was informed of a conspiracy against his
it highly probable that Plotina and Attianus fabri- life; it had been formed by the consular, Nigrinus,
cated the adoption after: the death of the emperor, in conjunction with others of high rank, among
and that for this purpose Trajan's death was for a whom. are mentioned Palma, Celsus, and Lusius
few days kept secret. It is even said that Trajan Quietus. Hadrian escaped from the hands of the
intended to make Neratius:Priscus his successor. conspirators, and all of them were put to death, as
Thus much, however, seems certain, that the fact Hadrian himself said, by the command of the
of Trajan leaving Hadrian at the head of affairs in senate, and against his own will, though it was
the east, when his illness compelled him to leave, believed at the time, and is also maintained by
was a sufficient proof that he placed the highest Dion Cassius, that Hadrian himself had given
confidence in him. Hadrian was at the time at orders for their execution. In consequence of
Antioch, and on the 11th of August, 117, he was this act of severity, popular feeling was very
proclaimed emperor. He immediately sent a letter strong against him, especially as it was rumoured,
to the senate at Rome, in which he apologised for that the conspiracy was a mere pretence, devised
not having been able to wait for its decision, and for the purpose of getting rid of those men who
solicited its sanction, which was readily granted. had been opposed to him during the reign of Trajan.
The Roman empire at this period was in a peri- As Hadrian had to fear the consequenceseof this
Ions Condition: the Parthians, over whom Trajan state of public feeling, he entrusted the provinces
had gained brilliant victories, had revolted, and of Pannonia and Dacia to Marcits Turbo, who had
been successful in several engagements; the pro- just pacified Mauritania, and returned to Rome.
vinces of Mauritania and Moesia were invaded by His first object was to refute the opinion that he
barbarians; and other provinces, such as Egypt, had any share in the execution of the four conSyria, and Palestine, were in a state of insurrection. sulars, and he soothed the minds of the people by
Hladrian, with a wise policy, endeavoured, above all games, gladiatorial exhibitions, and large donations
things, to establish peace in the east. He pur- in money. Another act, which must have won for
chased it with a great but necessary sacrifice: it him the favour of thousands, both in Italy and the