Hadrian

Hadrian (76–138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138, the third of the Five Good Emperors, who chose to hold the empire's frontiers rather than extend them. Born at Italica, he became a ward of his kinsman Trajan; his love of Greek literature earned him the nickname Graeculus, the Greekling. He succeeded Trajan in 117.

He gave up Trajan's eastern conquests and spent years touring the provinces. In Britain he built Hadrian's Wall, and in Rome he rebuilt the Pantheon. In 130 his young companion Antinous drowned on the Nile; Hadrian founded Antinoöpolis in his name.

The Bar Kokhba Revolt of 132–135 took twelve legions to crush, and he renamed Jerusalem Aelia Capitolina. In 138 he adopted Antoninus Pius on condition that he adopt Marcus Aurelius, then died at Baiae in July. The Senate deified him only after Antoninus threatened to refuse the throne, earning the name Pius.