Emperor Hadrian

Hello, I am Publius Aelius Hadrianus, but you can simply call me Hadrian. I was born a very long time ago, on January 24th, in the year 76. My home was a city called Italica, which was part of Roman Spain. From a young age, I loved to learn new things. I was especially fascinated by the beautiful art and clever ideas from Greece. Because I enjoyed Greek culture so much, people gave me the nickname 'Graeculus,' which means 'Little Greek.' My life changed when I was about ten years old, as my parents passed away. After that, I was cared for by a relative of mine, a very powerful and important man named Trajan, who would later play a big role in my life.

As I grew older, I joined the famous Roman army and also worked in the government. This was all under the watchful eye of Trajan, who had become the emperor of Rome. By working closely with him, I learned so much about how to lead and how to manage the needs of our people. Then, in the year 117, Emperor Trajan passed away. It was a sad day, but it was also the moment my life changed forever. It became my turn to take on the most important job in the world at that time: I became the emperor of the vast Roman Empire. I felt the great weight of being in charge of so many different lands and people, and I knew I wanted to be a good and fair ruler for all of them.

I believed that to be a good emperor, I couldn't just stay in a palace in Rome and read reports. I needed to see the empire with my own eyes. So, I decided to travel, and I spent more than half of my time as emperor on the move. My journeys took me all over our enormous territory. I walked through the sandy, ancient lands of Egypt and stood in the green, rainy fields of the island we called Britannia, which you now know as Britain. During these travels, I would meet with my soldiers to make sure they had everything they needed. I also checked on the borders of our empire to ensure they were strong and that everyone living within them was safe. It was important to me that every part of the empire felt connected and protected.

More than anything, I loved building things that would last for centuries, long after I was gone. I wanted to create structures that were not only useful but also beautiful. One of my most famous projects began in the year 122, when I ordered a giant wall to be built across the northern part of Britannia. This wall, which became known as Hadrian's Wall, was meant to clearly mark the edge of our Roman empire. Back in the city of Rome, I also focused on rebuilding a magnificent temple called the Pantheon. It was a very special project, and we completed it around the year 128. The most amazing part of the Pantheon is its giant, unsupported dome. At the very top, there is a round opening to the sky called an oculus, which lets a perfect circle of sunlight stream into the grand room below.

I was the emperor for 21 years, and for many people in the empire, it was a time of peace and safety. I lived to be 62 years old and passed away in the year 138. Today, people remember me as one of the 'Five Good Emperors' who helped Rome prosper. My greatest legacy, however, can still be seen and touched. You can visit the amazing Pantheon in Rome and walk along the long, winding path of Hadrian's Wall in England. These structures are reminders of the great Roman Empire and the things we built to stand the test of time.