Hadrian and the Triumph of Rome

Born and bred in what is now northern Spain to a family of olive-oil magnates, Hadrian was lucky enough to benefit from the patronage of his maternal cousin, Trajan, who would later become emperor, and who named Hadrian his successor on his death in AD 117.

After suppressing the Jewish revolt that had started under Trajan (memorably depicted in Josephus'' Jewish War), Hadrian brought years of turbu...