of J. C. 122.

An. R. 878, the barbarous kings and nations upon the frontiers of the empire, his scheme was to keep peace, and he succeeded.

An. R. 874,

of J. C. 123.

An. R. 875, of J. C. 124.

An. R. 877, of J. C. 126.

An. R. 878, of J. C. 127.

An. R. 879, of J. C. 128.

An. R. 880,

of J. C. 129.

Apologies for Christianity presented to the emperor by S. Quadratus and S. Aristidus. A rescript of Adrian favourable to Christians.

We may believe, with great probability, that the first of these two consuls for this year is Tatian, formerly pretorian prefect, who, soon after his promotion to the consulate, was proscribed.

TORQUATUS ASPRENAS.

ANNIUS LIBO.

The second of these consuls for this year was uncle, by the father, to Marcus Aurelius.

P. JUVENCIUS CELSUS II.

Q. JULIUS BALBUS.

Juvencius Celsus, consul for this year, was a famous lawyer, whom Adrian often called to his councils.

An

An earthquake in Bithynia.

Adrian renews his voyages to Africa, whence he returns the same year to Rome.

The death of Plotina, Trajan's widow.

An. R. 880,

of J. C. 129.

The dedication of the temple built by Adrian, to An. R. 881, Rome and Venus.

The low envy of Adrian against Apollodorus, the architect, whom he puts to death.

Adrian, departing again from Rome, traverses Asia anew, comes to Syria; and in this and the following year he visits Arabia, Palestine, and Egypt.

When in the East, he sends back to Chosroës, king of the Parthians, his daughter, who had been taken by Trajan.

SER. OCTAVIUS LENAS.

PONTIANUS.

M. ANTONIUS RUFINUS.

Adrian in Egypt.

Pompey's burying-place rebuilt.

Antinous's death, whom Adrian is not ashamed

to make a god.

of J. C. 180

An. R. 882,

of J. C. 131.

An. R. 884, of J. C. 133.

C. JULIUS SERVIANUS III.

C. VIBIUS VARUS.

Adrian passes the winter at Athens, where they are extremely fond of him; he loads them with favours.

Adrian stops the incursions of the Alans.

Revolt of the Jews. Barcochebas puts himself at their head. Tinnius Rufus, then governor of the country, opposes their first attacks. Julius Severus is sent from Great Britain to subdue them.

VOL. VII.

K

PONTIANUS.

An. R. 885,

of J. C. 134.

An, R. 886, of J. C. 135

An. R. 887, of J. C. 136.

An. R. 888, f J. C. 137.

Adrian returns to Rome. Falls into a languishing way; he adopts L. Ceionius Commodus, a vicious man, with ill health. He makes him pretor, and sends him to command in Pannonia.

The taking of Bitther the last warlike exploit against the Jews. Barcochebas's death.

L. CEIONIUS COMMODUS*.

SEX. VETULLENUS CIVICA POMPEIANUS.

Adrian's temper soured by his disorder. He puts Servian to death, his brother-in-law; Fuscus his great-nephew, and many others.

End of the Jewish war.

L. ELIUS VERUS CÆSAR II.
P. COELIUS BALBINUS.

Julius Severus, after finishing the Jewish war, is sent to govern Bithynia, and shows himself no less a great magistrate than a great officer.

Ælia Capitolina rebuilt in the room of Jerusalem. The Jews are forbidden to enter it, except on the anniversary of the destruction of their city. CAMERINUS.

*Commodus is the same, whose adoption by Adrian is related under the preceding year. He ought therefore to be called Elius Cæsar in his first consulate, as he is the second which follows. If, in order to solve that difficulty, we would suppose that he was not adopted till the end of that year, we must give the lie to Spartian, who places his adoption before his pretorship and consulate. We may conjecture that Adrian had determined the adoption of Commodus the year before, and declared his resolution, that he made way for it by conferring on him the honour sof pretor and consul; but that the adoption was not execu ted formally till the year when Commodus was consul the first time.

CAMERINUS.

NIGER.

Verus Cæsar dies the night before the first of January.

The twenty-fifth of February, Adrian adopts Titus Antoninus, and makes him adopt M. Annius Verus, afterwards called Marcus Aurelius, and the son of Verus Cæsar.

Death of Sabina, Adrian's wife.

Adrian despairs. He desires a sword or poison to put himself to death, and Antony forbids obeying him.

Many senators saved by Antonius from Adrian's fury.

Adrian's death at Baiæ in Campania, the tenth of July.

The senate wants to condemn his memory, and to abolish his acts. Antoninus prevents that disgrace, and even obtains for him, though with much difficulty, the honour of being ranked among the gods.

ADRIAN.

An. R. 889

of J. C. 138'

136]

ADRIA N.

2

SECT. I.

Adrian proclaimed emperor in Syria, writes to the senate to desire a confirmation of what had been done by the army. The senate grants it. Adrian remains some time in the East. He abandons all Trajan's conquests in the East. Adrian's jealousy of Trajan's glory. He preserves peace all his reign, purchasing it of the barbarians. The Jews reduced to an entire submission by Martius Turbo. Adrian returns to Rome, and secures the tranquillity of Dacia, by making peace with the Sarmate and Roxolani. Dangers from domestic enemies. Adrian uses clemency at first. A conspiracy. Four consular persons put to death. Adrian denies his having any hand in these executions. He endeavours to efface the odious impression by his bounties to the people. A mixture of virtues and vices in Adrian. A popular maxim of Adrian concerning the nature of power. His taste for simplicity. He lives familiarly with his friends. His conduct towards the people mixed with complaisance and steadiness. He is extremely popular to the cities in alliance or in subjection to the empire. He is affable and liberal to individuals. His attention to ease the public calamities. Acts of clemency. Multitude and magnificence of Adrian's works over all the empire. Care of justice. He frequently administers it himself. His attention to the conduct of the governors of the provinces. Four consular persons_established with the power of jurisdiction over Italy. Perpetual edict. Laws upon different subjects.

Adrian