Death of Hadrian

On This Day in Ancient History - July 10:
In ancient Rome, in A.D. 138, the third of the 5 so-called good emperors, Hadrian, died. The name of Hadrian is familiar for the wall he built and places named for him, with or without the initial "H". Hadrian was followed by Antoninus Pius, who had Hadrian deified. Just as his deification was pushed, so his accession may have been. It is claimed Trajan, his adoptive father, had not wanted Hadrian to succeed him, but was thwarted by his wife, Plotina, who covered up her husband's death until she could make sure of Hadrian's acceptance by the senate.

More on Hadrian.

Related:

• Ancient Rome in Pictures
• Decay as a Reason for the Fall of Rome
• Hadrian's Wall
• The Golden Age of Roman Drama
• The Roman Theatrical Games