Born Publius Aelius Hadrianus (76-138 CE) to a well-established family with old roots in Hispania; Hadrian was related to Emperor Trajan through his father; who was a maternal cousin of Trajan's. Trajan did not officially designate an heir before he died; though his wife Pompeia Plotina claims that Trajan named Hadrian his successor just before his death.

Hadrian travelled extensively during his reign; visiting nearly every province in the Roman Empire. He attempted to turn Athens into the Empire's cultural capital; and had a Greek lover named Antinous. Hadrian also spent a lot of time with the military; often wearing his military attire and dining and sleeping alongside his soldiers. He is perhaps most famous for building Hadrian's Wall; the wall that marked the northern limit of Britannia.

Hadrian was a philhellene (admirer of Greek culture) in most of his tastes as well as a humanist; and is regarded among the 'Five Good Emperors'. He adopted Lucius Aelius as his heir in 136; but the latter died two years later in January 138. He eventually adopted Antoninus Pius as his successor; so long as Antoninus agreed to adopt Marcus Aurelius and Lucius Verus; Lucius Aelius' son; as his heirs. Hadrian died of heart failure on the 10th of July; 138.