Illustration of a Roman Emperor parading through the streets on horseback

Illustration by Frank Stockton

STANDARDS

Common Core: RH.6-8.1, RH.6-8.2, RH.6-8.4, RH.6-8.7, WHST.6-8.4, RI.6-8.1, RI.6-8.2, RI.6-8.4, RI.6-8.7, W.6-8.4, SL.6-8.1

NCSS: Culture • Time, Continuity, and Change • Individual Development and Identity • Power, Authority, and Governance • Global Connections

GEOGRAPHY

The Roaming Ruler

When he wasn’t securing borders and waging wars as commander of the Roman Empire, Hadrian lived like a tourist in his massive domain.

December 2022

By Brooke Ross

When Roman emperor Hadrian came to town, it was as if a world-famous celebrity had arrived. Take, for example, the scene in Palmyra in 129 A.D. Crowds of men, women, and children packed the streets of the ancient Syrian city, eager to catch a glimpse of their leader.

Finally, Hadrian came into view, surrounded by his massive entourage of advisers and guards. He raised a hand and waved to the townspeople, and they erupted into cheers.

After all, Hadrian wasn’t just any leader. He was the head of one of the greatest civilizations of all time. Known for its military strength, the Roman Empire existed from 27 B.C. to 476 A.D. When Hadrian took power nearly 2,000 years ago, in 117 A.D., the empire was at its largest—stretching across Europe into Asia and Africa (see map, below).

Hadrian was known for crossing his sprawling empire by foot or on horseback. He used those treks to inspect the military and keep tabs on the kingdom’s provinces, most of which were conquered lands. But there was another reason for his journeys: Hadrian loved to travel.

During his reign, which lasted until 138 A.D., he explored nearly every corner of his empire. Along the way, he forged a legacy that would influence the area for generations.

Born to Command

Hadrian was born in 76 A.D. in Italica, an ancient city in Hispania (present-day Spain). When he was 10, his father died, so Hadrian went to live with his older cousin Trajan—a future emperor.

Trajan ensured that his young relative had the best education possible. Hadrian studied in Rome, the empire’s capital, where he developed a fascination with literature and architecture. When Trajan became emperor in 98 A.D., Hadrian also climbed the ranks, holding important military and political positions. After Trajan died in 117 A.D., Hadrian was the obvious choice to succeed him.

Exploring His Empire

Image of a bronze statue turned green of a Roman Emperor

Fabrizio Troiani/Alamy Stock Photo

Hadrian often dressed in military attire, as this statue shows.

In one of his first moves as emperor, Hadrian made his territory smaller—by freeing recently conquered lands in the east. Some modern historians say Hadrian thought those lands had made the empire too big to rule effectively. Then, in 121 A.D., he set out on the first of several tours of his domain.

Traveling along the empire’s advanced network of roadways, Hadrian inspected his provinces, including Britannia (present-day Britain). There, in 122 A.D., he ordered the construction of a massive wall to “separate Romans from the barbarians” because tribes to the north had been attacking his territory. Hadrian’s Wall still stands near the present-day border between England and Scotland.

In later years, Hadrian visited the provinces of Hispania, Syria, and Greece, training the military and improving infrastructure as he went. He founded two new cities: one in Egypt and one in what would become Türkiye (Turkey).

He also took time to appreciate his surroundings by exploring rivers, studying local architecture, and scaling mountains to watch the sunrise.

A Complex Legacy

But like many emperors throughout history, Hadrian could be fierce and unforgiving when he was crossed. When people in the Roman province of Judea revolted in 132 A.D., he crushed the uprising with a bloody, four-year war. Afterward, he barred the people, who mostly followed Judaism, from practicing their religion.

By then, Hadrian’s health was failing. He died in 138 A.D., at age 62.

The Roman Empire would live on for another three centuries. Today, more than 40 countries—with diverse peoples, religions, and cultures—make up what was once Hadrian’s legendary realm.