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Why did the army proclaim Hadrian emperor in 117 CE?
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Hadrian
White marble statue of the Roman emperor Hadrian, from an excavation at Sagalassos in southwest Turkey.
In 117 CE, the Roman army proclaimed Hadrian emperor following the death of Trajan while he was returning from the East.12
The transition of power was facilitated by several key factors:
- Strategic Command: Trajan had entrusted Hadrian with the command of the crucial army in Syria, placing him in a position of significant military authority at the time of the emperor's death.2
- Formal Adoption: It was announced that Trajan had adopted Hadrian as his successor on his deathbed. Although some contemporary observers speculated that this was a fabrication by the empress Plotina to secure the succession, the announcement provided the necessary legal and political legitimacy for the army to recognize Hadrian as the new emperor.123
- Recognition: Following the report of Trajan's death on August 11, 117 CE, the army acted upon the news of the adoption and proclaimed Hadrian emperor, an act subsequently recognized by the Senate.23