The Greekling

-117 AD- Trajan's dead, so there was much anxiety about who would be his heir.
   -While Trajan's wife, Pompeia Plotina, had supported a dude named Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Trajan's only living male relative), but Trajan had always been uncertain as to if this was a good choice. 
      -The rumor is that when Trajan died, Plotina somehow manipulated the situation so that Hadrian was named heir.
         -Why would Plotina do this?
            -First, by having Hadrian be named emperor, Plotina would be able to retain her power.
            -Also provided a seamless tradition of power and hopefully would prevent a civil war.
            -Hadrian was also a good choice.  He wasn't too old or too young (he was 41 at this time), had lots of military and administrative experience (as governor of Pannonia Inferior).  Additionally, he was a legitimate relative of Trajan!
-Hadrian was born in 76 AD possibly in either Italica, Hispania Baetica (outside of modern-day Seville, Andalusia) or Rome; the exact details of his birth and lineage are unclear.
   -Family were elite Romans who had lived in Italica for a long time; father was a senator (and later praetor) but he died when Hadrian was 10. 
      -Thus, Hadrian came under the care of Trajan, his relative and a rising star in Roman politics at this time. 
         -Also came under the care of another dude, Publius Acilius Attianus, another powerful Roman aristocrat and official from Hispania.
    -Growing up, Hadrian was well-educated, taking an especially strong interest in everything Greek.  In fact, he liked Greek shit so much that he acquired the nickname "Graeculus" ("the Greekling").  This would also have a huge influence on his reign as emperor, too.
   -Moved to Rome with Trajan when he was 14.  At this time, Trajan was serving as consul under Domitian.
   -Thanks to Trajan, Hadrian eventually landed three successive military tribuneships, beginning in Moesia, then Pannonia, and finally Germania Superior.
      -He was a very charismatic officer and competent leader.
      -Although he is now seen as a pacifist emperor, he actually loved the military and military culture, and because of this the military loved him.
   -Was serving as tribune in Germania Superior when Trajan was enthroned as emperor. 
   -While Hadrian was possibly an obvious choice for heir, Trajan was skeptical of his worthiness.
      -It's also possible that Hadrian had benefited from Trajan's power only because Pompeia liked him, and not Trajan himself.
      -Hadrian was also mocked by senators in Rome due to his foreign accent and "barbarian" manners and shit.
   -Hadrian eventually married Trajan's niece's daughter, Vibia Sabina, in 100 AD.
      -While this was a solid political marriage, it was most certainly not a romantic one.  Hadrian and Sabina didn't get along at all, and it also didn't help that Hadrian was gay.
   -Anyway, Hadrian continued to serve under Trajan, accompanying him on both Dacian Wars, but it's unclear as to what exactly Hadrian was doing there.
      -Was given a praetorship in 106 AD and command over a legion in Germania.
      -Was given a praetorship in 107 AD and command over a legion in Pannonia.
      -Made suffect consul in 108 AD, but this was considered to be kind of rude (and further evidence that Trajan didn't really like Hadrian).
   -Hadrian's generally upward movement in society was good for him, but it was just kind of weird because Trajan was ambiguous about what the point of all of it was.  It's also unclear as to what Hadrian made of it, too.
   -After finishing his consulship, Hadrian disappeared off the historical record for a few years before popping up again with his arrival in Athens in 112 AD.
      -Hadrian got so immersed in Athenian life and culture during this time that he eventually was given Athenian citizenship!  He even went on to serve as eponymous archon (chief magistrate) of the city!
         -Left Athens in 114 AD to join Trajan and serve in his entourage during Trajan's Parthian campaign. 
   -117 AD- Hadrian was appointed governor of Syria.
      -This was actually a legitimately powerful position, and demonstrated that Trajan was finally starting to take Hadrian seriously.
   -When Hadrian found out that Trajan had (allegedly) named him as heir, he announced the news  to his legions and there was much rejoicing. 
      -Thus, the Senate acquiesced and confirmed Hadrian as the new emperor.
-Anyway, now that Hadrian was emperor, he knew that he couldn't yet rest on his laurels (so to speak), as he knew that there were powerful political enemies who would test the limits of his power, so he had to act fast!