Emperor Hadrian (76 - 138)
Remains of Hadrian's Wall today
July 10th 138: Hadrian dies
On this day in 138 CE, Roman Emperor Hadrian died aged sixty-two. Hadrian was born in what is now Spain, and upon the death of his father was entrusted to the care of his father’s cousin Trajan. Hadrian began a public career by serving in the Roman legions, and once Trajan became emperor in 98 rapidly ascended the ranks, becoming a territorial governor and eventually senator and consul. In 117, Hadrian was named Trajan’s successor, and acceded to the imperial throne upon the emperor’s death. Emperor Hadrian quickly set about consolidating his reign, rounding up dissidents and abandoning his predecessor’s expansionist wars in Armenia and Mesopotamia to secure peace in the empire. Hadrian spent much of his reign traveling the vast Roman Empire, and as an ardent patron of Greek culture, devoted resources to building temples and libraries in Athens to celebrate their ancient past. One of his lasting legacies was to begin the construction of a seventy-three mile long wall - now known as Hadrian’s Wall - in the north of Britain to mark the boundary of the Roman Empire. Hadrian was married but had no children, and preferred the company of his male lover Antinous, upon whose premature death Hadrian openly mourned and encouraged his deification. Hadrian’s last overseas journey in the 130s was intended to put down a Jewish rebellion in Judaea in response to his repression of practices like circumcision. He selected Antoninus Pius as his successor, demanding that he choose the young Marcus Aurelius as his heir, and died at the Italian resort of Baiae in July 138.
Nenhum comentário:
Postar um comentário