LGBT People of History 1 - Hadrian

Callum (calpol25) and I have decided to write a few Hubs on famous gay people from the past. We will publish them alternately on our 2 HP sites. Here is the first one. We hope you enjoy reading it.

Hadrian

Publius Aelius Traianus Hadrianus – Hadrian – was made Emperor of Rome in 117. He was a peacemaker and started consolidating the Empire. Prior to this the Empire was in a continual state of expansion.

Hadrian’s Wall

Latin -Vallum Aelium - Hadrians Wall the latin name originates from a text on the Staffordshire Moorlands Patera. Hadrians Wall was a fortification in Roman Britain which began in 122 during the rule of Hadrian. There had been much rebellion in Roman Britain and also the rest of the Roman Empire.

There is no exact explanation as to why the the wall was built although many theories do exist, the most common of course is that it was a lot to do with Roman Power, and also that it may have been a deterrent to others with the current troubles in and around the Roman Empire.

Hadrian’s Wall spans 80 Roman Miles (73 actual miles and or 120km) and is a national cycle route and footpath stretching from the Coastal town of Bowness On Solway in Cumbria right along the northern tip of Cumbria, Northumbria and along to Segendunum at Wallsend along the River Tyne, in the North East.

The wall cuts through Carlisle although there are very few remains of it as over time Carlisle has been the focus of many battles throughout history and much has disappeared, although the cycle route does cut alongside where the wall would have been and there are some remains of it.

It was the first fortification and the most well known although another wall was created known as the Antonine Wall in Scotland which has almost very little remains.

Hadrians Wall was heavily fortified and very well guarded, it is believed that there were many gates along the wall which allowed trade and served as a customs post to levy taxation.

Some fortifications were also constructed in what is now Germany.

Hadrian’s Life

He designed the Pantheon in Rome and loved all things Greek. He attempted to improve the welfare of the Roman people, but because he travelled extensively and was absent a lot he was not popular.

Hadrian had to marry a woman (Sabina, great-niece of Emperor Trajan) for political reasons. It seems to have been a loveless marriage.

He fell for a young Greek man, Antinous, who became his Consort. They both travelled the Empire and were inseparable. When Antinous was mysteriously drowned in the Nile in 130, Hadrian was devastated and made him into a God. A city near where he was drowned was named Antinopolis.

After the death of his Consort Hadrian’s health began to decline and he never finished building a beautiful villa at Tibur (Tivoli). He loved the place and lived there for much of his time. He died in 138.

Ian and Callum

With thanks to Wikipedia and The Independent.

Here is a link to all of our Hubs on LGBT People of History: