Hadrian

Hadrian was made emperor after Trajan's death, although he wasn't adopted by him.

Character and Background

 * Hadrian was a career military man, and had had years of experience in administration before he became emperor.
 * he was an intellectual and patron of the arts; he himself wrote poetry, among other things (rather different from Trajan)
 * Hadrian's primary interest was consolidation

Early Acts

 * Set up next two successions; (1) Antoninus Pius --> (2) Marcus Aurelius & Lucius Verus
 * ethnic succession (not familial): all had ties to Spain & Central Gaul; all part of same political grouping
 * a kind of meritocratic system, Aurelius and Verus trained for role from early age
 * ​traveled personally all over the empire; saw and was seen by provincials, did much to encourage internal cultural strength; also continued use of beneficial ideology
 * encouraged senatorial and equestrian involvement in senate; sought cooperative relationship with Senate and administration

Projects on Tour

 * has built Hadrian's Wall in Britain
 * funded renovation of Pantheon
 * builds a mausoleum; (has his adopted son's buried there) shows his building connections to continuity

Jewish Problems

 * Hadrian stopped in Jerusalem; Jews still angry after sack of Jerusalem
 * underestimated lingering ire of Jews (from sack by Titus); Hadrian establishes Roman veteran colony & prohibits circumcision.
 * Jews are incensed and start Bar Kokbha War (132-135)

Bar Kokbha War Results

 * devastates population; after having already been beaten down under Vespasian and Titus (Romans lose heavily too)
 * damages city
 * Renames province Syria Palestina
 * prohibits Jews from entering Jerusalem

Military Activies

 * Withdrew military from Trajan's expansion; couldnt' afford to maintain expansionism, focused on strengthing 
 * "tactical, in that he only went after territories Rome could easily take"

Succession
passes smoothly to Antoninus Pius, and then to Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus