Editing Hadrian (section)

===Arranging the succession===
[[File:Bronze Hadrien Louvre Br4547.jpg|thumb|upright|Posthumous portrait of Hadrian; bronze, Roman artwork, c. 140 AD, perhaps from [[Roman Egypt]], [[Louvre]], Paris]]
Hadrian's marriage to Sabina had been childless. Suffering from poor health, Hadrian turned to the issue of succession. In 136, he adopted one of the ordinary [[Roman consul|consuls]] of that year, Lucius Ceionius Commodus, who, as an emperor-in-waiting, took the name [[Lucius Aelius Caesar]]. He was the son-in-law of Gaius Avidius Nigrinus, one of the "four consulars" executed in 118. His health was delicate, and his reputation apparently more that "of a voluptuous, well-educated great lord than that of a leader".<ref>Merlin Alfred. Passion et politique chez les Césars (review of Jérôme Carcopino, ''Passion et politique chez les Césars''). In: ''Journal des savants''. Jan.-Mar. 1958. pp. 5–18. Available at [http://www.persee.fr/web/revues/home/prescript/article/jds_0021-8103_1958_num_1_1_3244]. Retrieved 12 June 2015.</ref> Various modern attempts have been made to explain Hadrian's choice: [[Jerome Carcopino]] proposes that Aelius was Hadrian's natural son.<ref>Albino Garzetti, ''From Tiberius to the Antonines : A History of the Roman Empire AD 14–192''. London: Routledge, 2014, p. 699</ref> It has also been speculated that his adoption was Hadrian's belated attempt to reconcile with one of the most important of the four senatorial families whose leading members had been executed soon after Hadrian's succession.<ref name="Christol & Nony, 159"/> Aelius acquitted himself honourably as joint governor of [[Pannonia Superior]] and [[Pannonia Inferior]];<ref>András Mócsy, ''Pannonia and Upper Moesia (Routledge Revivals): A History of the Middle Danube Provinces of the Roman Empire''. London: Routledge, 2014, {{ISBN|978-0-415-74582-6}}, p. 102</ref> he held a further consulship in 137 but died on 1 January 138.<ref>Anthony Birley, pp. 289–292.</ref>

Hadrian next adopted Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus (the future emperor [[Antoninus Pius]]), who had served Hadrian as one of the five imperial legates of Italy, and as [[proconsul]] of [[Asia (Roman province)|Asia]]. In the interests of dynastic stability, Hadrian required that Antoninus adopt both Lucius Ceionius Commodus (son of the deceased Aelius Caesar) and Marcus Annius Verus (grandson of an influential senator [[Marcus Annius Verus (grandfather of Marcus Aurelius)|of the same name]] who had been Hadrian's close friend); Annius was already betrothed to Aelius Caesar's daughter [[Ceionia Fabia]].<ref name="Anthony Birley 1967 p. 601">The adoptions: Anthony Birley, pp. 294–295; T.D. Barnes, 'Hadrian and Lucius Verus', ''Journal of Roman Studies'' (1967), Ronald Syme, ''Tacitus'', p.&nbsp;601. Antoninus as a legate of Italy: Anthony Birley, p.&nbsp;199</ref><ref>Annius Verus was also
the step-grandson of the Prefect of Rome, [[Lucius Catilius Severus]], one of the remnants of the all-powerful group of Spanish senators from Trajan's reign. Hadrian would likely have shown some favour to the grandson in order to count on the grandfather's support; for an account of the various familial and marital alliances involved, see Des Boscs-Plateaux, pp. 241, 311, 477, 577; see also Frank McLynn,''Marcus Aurelius: A Life''. New York: Da Capo, 2010, {{ISBN|978-0-306-81916-2}}, p. 84</ref> It may not have been Hadrian, but rather Antoninus Pius&nbsp;– Annius Verus's uncle&nbsp;– who supported Annius Verus' advancement; the latter's divorce of Ceionia Fabia and subsequent marriage to Antoninus' daughter Annia Faustina points in the same direction. When he eventually became Emperor, Marcus Aurelius would co-opt Ceionius Commodus as his co-Emperor, under the name of [[Lucius Verus]], on his own initiative.<ref name="Anthony Birley 1967 p. 601"/>

Hadrian's last few years were marked by conflict and unhappiness. His adoption of Aelius Caesar proved unpopular, not least with Hadrian's brother-in-law [[Lucius Julius Ursus Servianus]] and Servianus's grandson Gnaeus Pedanius Fuscus Salinator. Servianus, though now far too old, had stood in the line of succession at the beginning of Hadrian's reign; Fuscus is said to have had designs on the imperial power for himself. In 137, he may have attempted a [[coup d'état|coup]] in which his grandfather was implicated; Hadrian ordered that both be put to death.<ref>Anthony Birley, pp. 291–292</ref> Servianus is reported to have [[last words|prayed before his execution]] that Hadrian would "long for death but be unable to die".<ref>Dio [https://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Roman/Texts/Cassius_Dio/69*.html#17.2 69.17.2]</ref> During his final, protracted illness, Hadrian was prevented from suicide on several occasions.<ref>Anthony Birley, p. 297</ref>