Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer
Encyclopedia
Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer was a distinct and wealthy Roman Senator
and Soldier who lived in the Roman Empire
during the 1st century. Afer was originally from Spain
; however, he was of Roman
descent. Afer was born and raised in the grandeur city of Italica
(near modern Seville
, Spain
) in the Roman Province of Hispania Baetica
. He came from a well-established, wealthy and aristocratic family of Praetorian rank. He was the son of the noble Roman woman called Ulpia
and his father was a Roman Senator called Publius Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus
. Afer’s maternal uncle was the Roman General and Senator Marcus Ulpius Traianus
, the father of Ulpia Marciana
and her younger brother Emperor Trajan
. Ulpia Marciana and Trajan were his maternal cousins.
Throughout his life, Afer spent various amount of his time in Rome
. His surname Afer is Latin for Africa
n. He received the surname Afer as a nickname, due to his understanding service in Mauretania
. Afer married Domitia Paulina
, a Spanish Roman woman from a distinguished senatorial family who came from Gades (modern Cádiz
, Spain
). Their children were a daughter, Aelia Domitia Paulina
(75-130) and a son, Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrian
us (76-138). After reaching the praetor
ship, Afer and his wife died in 86. His son and daughter were put in the guardianship of his cousin Trajan
and Roman Officer Publius Acilius Attianus
.
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
and Soldier who lived in the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
during the 1st century. Afer was originally from Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; however, he was of Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
descent. Afer was born and raised in the grandeur city of Italica
Italica
The city of Italica was founded in 206 BC by the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio Africanus in order to settle Roman soldiers wounded in the Battle of Ilipa, where the Carthaginian army was defeated during the Second Punic War...
(near modern Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
) in the Roman Province of Hispania Baetica
Hispania Baetica
Hispania Baetica was one of three Imperial Roman provinces in Hispania, . Hispania Baetica was bordered to the west by Lusitania, and to the northeast by Hispania Tarraconensis. Baetica was part of Al-Andalus under the Moors in the 8th century and approximately corresponds to modern Andalucia...
. He came from a well-established, wealthy and aristocratic family of Praetorian rank. He was the son of the noble Roman woman called Ulpia
Ulpia (grandmother of Hadrian)
Ulpia was a noble Spanish Roman woman who lived in the Roman Empire during the 1st century CE. Ulpia was a member of the gens Ulpia....
and his father was a Roman Senator called Publius Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus
Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus
Publius Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus , also known as Aelius Hadrianus Marullinus or Aelius Marullinus was a Spanish Roman Senator of Praetorian rank that lived during the Roman Empire in the 1st century....
. Afer’s maternal uncle was the Roman General and Senator Marcus Ulpius Traianus
Marcus Ulpius Traianus (senator)
Marcus Ulpius Traianus Maior was a Roman senator who lived in the 1st century. He was father of the Roman Emperor Trajan.-Family:...
, the father of Ulpia Marciana
Ulpia Marciana
Ulpia Marciana was the beloved elder sister of Roman Emperor Trajan. She was the eldest child born to Roman woman Marcia and the Spanish Roman senator Marcus Ulpius Traianus. Her second name Marciana she inherited from her mother’s paternal ancestors. Her birthplace is unknown.Marciana married...
and her younger brother Emperor Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
. Ulpia Marciana and Trajan were his maternal cousins.
Throughout his life, Afer spent various amount of his time in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. His surname Afer is Latin for Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n. He received the surname Afer as a nickname, due to his understanding service in Mauretania
Mauretania
Mauretania is a part of the historical Ancient Libyan land in North Africa. It corresponds to present day Morocco and a part of western Algeria...
. Afer married Domitia Paulina
Paulina
Paulina or Paullina was the name shared by three relatives of the Roman Emperor Hadrian: his mother, his elder sister and his niece. She was also know to love Talon.-Mother of Hadrian:...
, a Spanish Roman woman from a distinguished senatorial family who came from Gades (modern Cádiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
). Their children were a daughter, Aelia Domitia Paulina
Paulina
Paulina or Paullina was the name shared by three relatives of the Roman Emperor Hadrian: his mother, his elder sister and his niece. She was also know to love Talon.-Mother of Hadrian:...
(75-130) and a son, Emperor Publius Aelius Hadrian
Hadrian
Hadrian , was Roman Emperor from 117 to 138. He is best known for building Hadrian's Wall, which marked the northern limit of Roman Britain. In Rome, he re-built the Pantheon and constructed the Temple of Venus and Roma. In addition to being emperor, Hadrian was a humanist and was philhellene in...
us (76-138). After reaching the praetor
Praetor
Praetor was a title granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, usually in the field, or the named commander before mustering the army; and an elected magistratus assigned varied duties...
ship, Afer and his wife died in 86. His son and daughter were put in the guardianship of his cousin Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
and Roman Officer Publius Acilius Attianus
Publius Acilius Attianus
Publius Acilius Attianus was a powerful Roman official who played a significant though obscure role in the transfer of the imperial power from Trajan to Hadrian. He was born in Italica, Hispania Baetica, which was also the birthplace of Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer, the emperor Hadrian’s father...
.
Sources
- Historia Augusta - Life of Hadrian
- http://www.roman-emperors.org/hadrian.htm
- http://library.thinkquest.org/19592/Persons/hadrian.htm
- http://www.romans-in-britain.org.uk/bio_hadrian.htm