Hadrian, Publius Aelius Hadrianus

Roman emperor 117–138. He was adopted by the emperor Trajan, whom he succeeded. He pursued a policy of non-expansion and consolidation after the vast conquests of Trajan's reign. His defensive policy aimed at fixing the boundaries of the empire, which included the building of Hadrian's Wall in Britain. He travelled more widely than any other emperor, and consolidated both the army and Roman administration.

A very capable ruler, Hadrian introduced administrative, financial, and legal reforms. His magnificent buildings, often the result of his travels, are found throughout the empire. Some of his largest building projects were in Rome (including the Pantheon, his own mausoleum, and his villa at Tivoli) and Athens, where his new town and appointment as archon of Athens 112 reveals his fondness for Greek culture. He was also a cultivated poet and patron of the arts.