Editing Hadrian (section)

==Public service==
Hadrian's first official post in Rome was as a member of the ''[[decemviri stlitibus judicandis]]'', one among many [[vigintisexviri|vigintivirate]] offices at the lowest level of the ''[[cursus honorum]]'' ("course of honours") that could lead to higher office and a senatorial career. He then served as a [[military tribune]], first with the [[Legio II Adiutrix|Legio{{nbsp}}II ''Adiutrix'']] in 95, then with the [[Legio V Macedonica]]. During Hadrian's second stint as tribune, the frail and aged reigning emperor [[Nerva]] adopted Trajan as his heir; Hadrian was dispatched to give Trajan the news – or most probably was one of many emissaries charged with this same commission.<ref>Anthony Birley, ''Restless Emperor'', p.{{nbsp}}37</ref> Then Hadrian was transferred to [[Legio XXII Primigenia]] and a third tribunate.<ref>John D. Grainger, ''Nerva and the Roman Succession Crisis of AD 96–99''. Abingdon: Routledge, 2004, {{ISBN|0-415-34958-3}}, p. 109</ref> Hadrian's three tribunates gave him some career advantage. Most scions of the older senatorial families might serve one, or at most two, military tribunates as a prerequisite to higher office.<ref>Thorsten Opper, ''The Emperor Hadrian''. British Museum Press, 2008, p.{{snds}}39</ref><ref>Jörg Fündling, ''Kommentar zur Vita Hadriani der Historia Augusta'' (= Antiquitas. Reihe 4: Beiträge zur Historia-Augusta-Forschung, Serie 3: Kommentare, Bände 4.1 und 4.2). Habelt, Bonn 2006, {{ISBN|3-7749-3390-1}}, p.&nbsp;351.</ref> When Nerva died in 98, Hadrian is said to have hastened to Trajan, to inform him ahead of the official envoy sent by the governor, Hadrian's brother-in-law and rival Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus.<ref>John D. Grainger, ''Nerva and the Roman Succession Crisis'', p. 109; Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, Dominic Rathbone, eds. ''The Cambridge Ancient History – XI''. Cambridge U.&nbsp;P.: 2000, {{ISBN|0-521-26335-2}}, p.&nbsp;133.</ref>

In 101, Hadrian was back in Rome; he was elected [[quaestor]], then ''quaestor imperatoris Traiani'', liaison officer between Emperor and the assembled Senate, to whom he read the Emperor's communiqués and speeches&nbsp;– which he possibly composed on the emperor's behalf. In his role as imperial [[ghostwriter]], Hadrian took the place of the recently deceased Licinius Sura, Trajan's all-powerful friend and kingmaker.<ref>Anthony Birley, ''Restless Emperor'', p.{{nbsp}}54</ref> His next post was as ''ab actis senatus'', keeping the Senate's records.<ref>Boatwright, in Barrett, p. 158</ref> During the [[First Dacian War]], Hadrian took the field as a member of Trajan's personal entourage, but was excused from his military post to take office in Rome as [[tribune of the plebs]], in 105. After the war, he was probably elected [[praetor]].<ref>The text of ''Historia Augusta'' (''Vita Hadriani'', 3.8) is garbled, stating that Hadrian's election to the praetorship was contemporary "to the second consulate of Suburanus and Servianus" – two characters that had non-simultaneous second consulships – so Hadrian's election could be dated to 102 or 104, the later date being the most accepted</ref> During the [[Second Dacian War]], Hadrian was in Trajan's personal service again. He was released to serve as [[legatus|legate]] of [[Legio I Minervia]], then as governor of [[Pannonia Inferior|Lower Pannonia]] in 107, tasked with "holding back the [[Sarmatians]]".<ref name="Bowman, 133">Bowman, p. 133</ref><ref>Anthony Everitt, 2013, Chapter XI: "holding back the Sarmatians" may simply have meant maintaining and patrolling the border.</ref> Between 107 and 108, Hadrian defeated an invasion of Roman-controlled [[Banat]] and [[Oltenia]] by the [[Iazyges]].{{sfn|Giurescu|Fischer-Galaţi|1998|p=39}}{{sfn|Mócsy|2014|p=94}}{{sfn|Bârcă|2013|p=19}} The exact terms of the peace treaty are not known. It is believed the Romans kept Oltenia in exchange for some form of concession, likely involving a one-time tribute payment.{{sfn|Mócsy|2014|p=94}} The Iazyges also took possession of Banat around this time, which may have been part of the treaty.{{sfn|Mócsy|2014|p=101}}

Now in his mid-thirties, Hadrian travelled to Greece; he was granted Athenian citizenship and was appointed [[eponymous archon]] of Athens for a brief time (in 112).<ref>The inscription in footnote 1</ref> The Athenians awarded him a statue with an inscription in the [[Theatre of Dionysus]] ([[Inscriptiones Graecae|IG]] II2 3286) offering a detailed account of his ''cursus honorum'' thus far.<ref>The Athenian inscription confirms and expands the one in ''Historia Augusta''; see John Bodel, ed., ''Epigraphic Evidence: Ancient History From Inscriptions''. Abingdon: Routledge, 2006, {{ISBN|0-415-11623-6}}, p. 89</ref><ref>His career in office up to 112/113 is attested by the Athens inscription, 112 AD: CIL III, 550 = InscrAtt 3 = IG II, 3286 = Dessau 308 = IDRE 2, 365: ''[[Decemviri|decemvir stlitibus iudicandis]]/ sevir [[turma]]e equitum Romanorum/ [[Praefectus urbi|praefectus Urbi]] feriarum Latinarum/ [[military tribune|tribunus militum]] legionis&nbsp;II Adiutricis Piae Fidelis (95, in Pannonia Inferior)/ tribunus militum legionis V Macedonicae (96, in Moesia Inferior)/ tribunus militum legionis XXII Primigeniae Piae Fidelis (97, in Germania Superior)/ [[quaestor]] (101)/ ab actis senatus/ [[tribune|tribunus plebis]] (105)/ [[praetor]] (106)/ [[legatus legionis]] I Minerviae Piae Fidelis (106, in Germania Inferior)/ [[legatus]] Augusti pro praetore Pannoniae Inferioris (107)/ [[suffect consul|consul suffectus]] (108)/ [[Epulones|septemvir epulonum]] (before 112)/ [[sodalis Augustalis]] (before 112)/ archon Athenis (112/13)''.

He also held office as ''legatus [[Syria (Roman province)|Syriae]]'' (117): see H.{{nbsp}}W. Benario in [http://www.roman-emperors.org/hadrian.htm Roman-emperors.org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110408201312/http://www.roman-emperors.org/hadrian.htm |date=8 April 2011 }}</ref> Thereafter, no more is heard of him until [[Trajan's Parthian campaign]]. It is possible that he remained in Greece until his recall to the imperial retinue,<ref name="Bowman, 133"/> when he joined Trajan's expedition against [[Parthian Empire|Parthia]] as a legate.<ref>Anthony Birley, ''Hadrian the Restless Emperor'', p.{{nbsp}}68</ref> When the governor of [[Syria (Roman province)|Syria]] was sent to deal with renewed troubles in Dacia, Hadrian was appointed his replacement, with independent command.<ref>Anthony Birley, ''Restless Emperor'', p.{{nbsp}}75</ref> Trajan became seriously ill, and took ship for Rome, while Hadrian remained in Syria, ''de facto'' general commander of the Eastern Roman army.<ref>Karl Strobel: ''Kaiser Traian. Eine Epoche der Weltgeschichte''. Regensburg: 2010, p. 401.</ref> Trajan got as far as the coastal city of [[Gazipaşa|Selinus]], in [[Cilicia]], and died there on 8 August 117; he would be regarded as one of Rome's most admired, popular and best emperors.

===Relationship with Trajan and his family===

Around the time of his quaestorship, in 100 or 101, Hadrian had married Trajan's seventeen- or eighteen-year-old grandniece, [[Vibia Sabina]]. Trajan himself seems to have been less than enthusiastic about the marriage, and with good reason, as the couple's relationship would prove to be scandalously poor.<ref>Robert H. Allen, ''The Classical Origins of Modern Homophobia'', Jefferson: Mcfarland, 2006, {{ISBN|978-0-7864-2349-1}}, p.{{nbsp}}120</ref> The marriage might have been arranged by Trajan's empress, Plotina. This highly cultured, influential woman shared many of Hadrian's values and interests, including the idea of the Roman Empire as a commonwealth with an underlying Hellenic culture.<ref>Hidalgo de la Vega, Maria José:  "Plotina, Sabina y Las Dos Faustinas: La Función de Las Augustas en La Politica Imperial". ''Studia historica, Historia antigua'', 18, 2000, pp. 191–224. Available at [http://campus.usal.es/~revistas_trabajo/index.php/0213-2052/article/viewFile/6224/6238]. Retrieved 11 January 2017</ref> If Hadrian were to be appointed Trajan's successor, Plotina and her extended family could retain their social profile and political influence after Trajan's death.<ref>Plotina may have sought to avoid the fate of her contemporary, former empress [[Domitia Longina]], who had fallen into social and political oblivion: see François Chausson, "Variétés Généalogiques IV:Cohésion, Collusions, Collisions: Une Autre Dynastie Antonine", in Giorgio Bonamente, Hartwin Brandt, eds., ''Historiae Augustae Colloquium Bambergense''. Bari: Edipuglia, 2007, {{ISBN|978-88-7228-492-6}}, p. 143</ref> Hadrian could also count on the support of his mother-in-law, [[Salonia Matidia]], who was the daughter of Trajan's beloved sister [[Ulpia Marciana]].<ref>Marasco, p. 375</ref><ref>Tracy Jennings, "A Man Among Gods: Evaluating the Significance of Hadrian's Acts of Deification." ''Journal of Undergraduate Research'': 54. Available at [http://www3.nd.edu/~ujournal/wp-content/uploads/Full-Print-Edition-with-cover_09-10.pdf#page=62] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416045613/http://www3.nd.edu/~ujournal/wp-content/uploads/Full-Print-Edition-with-cover_09-10.pdf|date=16 April 2017}}. Accessed 15 April 2017</ref> When Ulpia Marciana died in 112, Trajan had her [[Imperial cult (ancient Rome)|deified]], and made Salonia Matidia an ''[[Augustus (title)#Feminine equivalent|Augusta]]''.<ref>This made Hadrian the first senator in history to have an ''Augusta'' as his mother-in-law, something that his contemporaries could not fail to notice: see Christer Brun, "Matidia die Jüngere", IN Anne Kolb, ed., ''Augustae. Machtbewusste Frauen am römischen Kaiserhof?: Herrschaftsstrukturen und Herrschaftspraxis II. Akten der Tagung in Zürich 18–20. 9. 2008''. Berlin: Akademie Verlag, 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-05-004898-7}}, p.{{nbsp}}230</ref>

[[File:(Toulouse) Buste de Trajan type dit 'des Decennalia' - Musée Saint-Raymond, Ra 58 b.jpg|thumb|upright|Bust of Emperor [[Trajan]]; [[Musée Saint-Raymond]], Toulouse]]
Hadrian's personal relationship with [[Trajan]] was complex and may have been difficult. Hadrian seems to have sought influence over Trajan, or Trajan's decisions, through cultivation of the latter's boy favourites; this gave rise to some unexplained quarrel, around the time of Hadrian's marriage to Sabina.<ref>Thorsten Opper, ''Hadrian: Empire and Conflict''. Harvard University Press, 2008, p. 170</ref><ref>David L. Balch, Carolyn Osiek, eds., ''Early Christian Families in Context: An Interdisciplinary Dialogue''. Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing, 2003, {{ISBN|0-8028-3986-X}}, p.{{nbsp}}301</ref> Late in Trajan's reign, Hadrian failed to achieve a senior consulship, being only suffect consul for 108;<ref>Anthony R Birley, ''Hadrian: The Restless Emperor'', p.{{nbsp}}54</ref> this gave him parity of status with other members of the senatorial nobility,<ref>Alan K. Bowman, Peter Garnsey, Dominic Rathbone, eds., ''The Cambridge Ancient History'', XI, p. 133</ref> but no particular distinction befitting an heir designate.<ref>Mackay, Christopher. ''Ancient Rome: a Military and Political History''. Cambridge U. Press: 2007, {{ISBN|0-521-80918-5}}, p.{{nbsp}}229</ref> Had Trajan wished it, he could have promoted his protege to [[Patrician (ancient Rome)|patrician]] rank and its privileges, which included opportunities for a fast track to consulship without prior experience as tribune; he chose not to.<ref>Fündling, 335</ref> While Hadrian seems to have been granted the office of tribune of the plebs a year or so younger than was customary, he had to leave Dacia, and Trajan, to take up the appointment; Trajan might simply have wanted him out of the way.<ref>Gabriele Marasco, ed., ''Political Autobiographies and Memoirs in Antiquity: A Brill Companion''. Leiden: Brill, 2011, {{ISBN|978-90-04-18299-8}}, p.{{nbsp}}375</ref> The ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' describes Trajan's gift to Hadrian of a diamond ring that Trajan himself had received from [[Nerva]], which "encouraged [Hadrian's] hopes of succeeding to the throne".<ref>''Historia Augusta'', ''Life of Hadrian'', 3.7</ref><ref>In 23 BC [[Augustus]] handed a similar ring to his heir apparent, [[Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa|Agrippa]]: see Judith Lynn Sebesta, [[Larissa Bonfante]], eds., ''The World of Roman Costume''. University of Wisconsin Press, 1994, p.&nbsp;78</ref> While Trajan actively promoted Hadrian's advancement, he did so with caution.<ref>Fündling, 351</ref>

===Succession===
Failure to nominate an heir could invite chaotic, destructive wresting of power by a succession of competing claimants – a civil war. Too early a nomination could be seen as an abdication and reduce the chance for an orderly transmission of power.<ref>Fündling, 384; Strobel, 401.</ref> As Trajan lay dying, nursed by his wife, Plotina, and closely watched by Prefect Attianus, he could have lawfully adopted Hadrian as heir by means of a simple deathbed wish, expressed before witnesses;<ref>John Richardson, "The Roman Mind and the power of fiction" IN Lewis Ayres, Ian Gray Kidd, eds. ''The Passionate Intellect: Essays on the Transformation of Classical Traditions : Presented to Professor I.G. Kidd''. New Brunswick: Transaction Books, 1995, {{ISBN|1-56000-210-7}}, p. 128</ref> but when an adoption document was eventually presented, it was signed not by Trajan but by Plotina.<ref>Birley, Anthony, Hadrian, the restless emperor, London / New York 1997, pp 77f, based on Dio and the Historia Augusta; Elizabeth Speller, p. 25</ref> That Hadrian was still in Syria was a further irregularity, as Roman adoption law required the presence of both parties at the adoption ceremony. Rumours, doubts, and speculation attended Hadrian's adoption and succession. It has been suggested that Trajan's young manservant Phaedimus, who died very soon after Trajan, was killed (or killed himself) rather than face awkward questions.<ref>Birley, ''Restless Emperor'', p. 80</ref> Ancient sources are divided on the legitimacy of Hadrian's adoption: [[Cassius Dio]] saw it as bogus and the ''[[Historia Augusta]]'' writer as genuine.<ref>Stephan Brassloff, "Die Rechtsfrage bei der Adoption Hadrians". ''Hermes'' 49. Bd., H. 4 (Sep. 1914), pp. 590–601</ref> An [[aureus]] minted early in Hadrian's reign represents the official position; it presents Hadrian as Trajan's "[[Caesar (title)|Caesar]]" (Trajan's heir designate).<ref>The coin legend runs HADRIANO TRAIANO CAESARI; see Burnett, Andrew, The early coinage of Hadrian and the deified Trajan at Rome and Alexandria, American Journal of Numismatics 20, 2008, pp 459–477; see also Roman, Yves, Rémy, Bernard & Riccardi, Laurent:" Les intrigues de Plotine et la succession de Trajan. À propos d'un aureus au nom d'Hadrien César". ''Révue des études anciennes'', T. 111, 2009, no. 2, pp. 508–517; For the portrait type of Hadrian on his early coins of 117AD with a partial beard showing his chin free of a beard see Pangerl, Andreas, Hadrian’s First and Second Imperial Portrait Types of 117–118 AD; Jahrbuch für Numismatik und Geldgeschichte 71, 2021, pp. 171–184</ref>