Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1874-06-13
For the Essex County Herald.
FIVE EMPERORS OF. ROME,
81 A STUDENT.
Hadrian, A. d. 117--A. D. 1873.
NUMBER 3.

NUMBER 3.
Hadrian, the 10Th Emperor of
Rome, descended from u family of
Hadria, in Picenum.
He was a military commander,
distinguished for his courage and
activity. His father had married an
aunt of the late Emperor, who, upon
the fathers death, was appointed one
of his guardians. Ii has been sup
posed by some that Trajan left no
will, making the nomination Of q sue
ccssor to the throne, but that his
wife, PTotina, forged the will, by
which the world WAS made to believe
that Hadrian had been adopted by
Trajan. This will was however pub
lished, and Hadrian entered upon bis
government at Antioch, on the 18th
day of August, A. d. III, and was at
this place proclaimed Emperor.
lie wrote letter to the Senate, in
which he announced his appointment,
and the Senate at once confirmed him
in his power lie made peace with
the Parthians, and restored Assyria
and Mespotamia to ChosroS, their
King,
He adopted the policy of Augustus
in refusing to extend the limits Of IFS
Empire. Soon after his return to
Rome, in a. ID. l18, he was obliged
to march to the defence Of the PROV
ince Of M0lsia, which had been
evaded by the Roxolani and Sarmatae.
His object vas merely to preserve the
boundaries Of his Empire; lie con-
cluded q peace with the RoXolani and
probably. purchased their submission.
The news of a conspiracy at Rome
reached him just as he was about to
march against the Sarmate. He
seems to have ordered the conspira-
tors to have been put to death, al
though, afterwards, he denies that he
had done so.
! Upon his return to Rome he seems
to have endeayoled to win the af
feetions Of the people by donations
games, and gIatlitoral shows. He
among his other acts, cancelled 4
large amount OF taxes which had now
been DIE for fifteen years, and he
promised the Senators never to pun
ish one of their boly without thei
approval. He divided Italy into foul
regions, and placed over each one g
consular magistrate. lie also insti
tuted a now system Of administration
into the palace, the army, and the
State, which lasted till the reign OF
Constantine the Great.
He began in \. d. 1l9, journey
through all the provinces Of the Ro
man Empire he did this in orler t.
examine into their condition, and tt
discover and amend any faults il
the system Of their government II,
was SO fond of travel, that he wa
never content to remain long in re
pose. He occupied large part o
his reign with this important journey
| Germany and Gaul were the two
countries which he first visited, ant
from thence, in a. d. l2l, he passeC
over into Britain. AT the time of hi
visit, the Brjtons were only PARTIAL,
civilized, and were unable TO defent
themselves from the incursions o
their neighbors, the Caledonians.
In order to provide u partial pro
lection from these forays, he bull
across tile Island wall, from TIL
mouth of the Tyne to Solway Firth
the remains OF which can still be seer
by the traveller. On his return fror
Britain he passed through Gaul t
Spain, and was here received wit
great joy, on account Of his being
: native Of that county. He spent th
winter in the city Of Tarragona. |
, the spring he returned to Rome, her
, he spent some time to prepare for
f journey Eastward. This journey wa
FASTENED by new invasion of til
Parthians. On his approach the Pal
, thians were glad to make peace, an
t he was allowed to pursue his journe
!, without further molestation. On hi
t arrival in Asia Minor, lie turhed OF
,, Of his way to visit the famous city {
Athens. Here he spent some time
t and was initiated into the Elcnsina
2 mysteries. After spending the wintC
/ at Athens, lie went TO Sicily, an
! visited mount 4Etna. From Sicil
!. be again returned to Rome, and her