Hadrian reflects on his family, which migrated to Spain centuries ago. His grandfather, Marullinus, was of the senatorial rank and served under Titus. His grandfather was a hard man, but he had also been interested in the stars and believed Hadrian’s horoscope said he was born to rule. Hadrian’s father worked in civil administration. His family was not learned. Hadrian was born in Italica, but his real homeland was in books. When his guardian called Hadrian to Rome, he entered school and encountered poetry, which transported him. He also had a tutor who taught him Greek, which opened up new worlds to him.

At 16, Hadrian had some training in the legions and visited Athens, where he enjoyed studying medicine. He thinks of his youth as a formless, opaque, and unpolished period; he knew he wanted money and glory, but he also felt he should serve. When he returned to Rome to take up public office, the reigning emperor, Domitian, was deeply unpopular, while Hadrian’s cousin, Trajan, was a popular hero. Hadrian learned from his legal colleagues, worked to lose his provincial accent, and had affairs with men and women. His love of Greek culture led to the nickname “the Greekling.”

He learned the important skill of listening closely to other people. While the true nature of men is to be vain, ignorant, greedy, quick to advance themselves at another’s expense, and eager to avoid suffering, Hadrian believes that in nearly every man can also be seen a glimmering of the divine. Few men are thoroughly good; likewise no man is entirely evil. The narrator feels superior to most men because he has sought liberty rather than power. Liberty for Hadrian is a blend of ease and discipline: being at peace with his surroundings and with his tasks. This is how he learned to accept himself.

Hadrian rejoined the army and was stationed near the Danube when Domitian was assassinated and his successor, Nerva, adopted Trajan. Hadrian was curious about the barbarians and enjoyed learning about them and their land. He fantasized, for a while, about traveling beyond the borders of the empire and exploring the world.

Hadrian was already on his way to visit Trajan when news came of Nerva’s death. Hadrian’s brother-in-law, Servianus, wanted to be the first to convey the news to the new emperor, so he had Hadrian attacked on the road. Hadrian escaped and delivered his news to Trajan. They did not have a close relationship, but Hadrian participated in Trajan’s plans for further conquest and earned his respect, if not his trust. Those years of war were happy ones for Hadrian. He was initiated into the cult of Mithras, sponsored by a fellow officer, Marcius Turbo. He found the rites bloody and harsh but also exhilarating, and he can see the purpose they served to create bonds of comradeship and meaning. Hadrian became famous for his acts of bravado; he reflects that if this seems at odds with his reputation as a scholar, it is because he was easily influenced: “Different persons ruled in me in turn, though no one of them for long” (55). Trajan admired his courage and, after Hadrian went with him in the conquest of Dacian capital city of Sarmizegethusa, where King Decebalus and his council swallowed poison, Trajan gave to Hadrian the diamond ring that Nerva had given Trajan—a marker identifying Hadrian as Trajan’s successor.

When he returned to Rome, Hadrian was popular. He began wearing a short beard and lost his fear of displeasing others. He served as a senator and wrote many of Trajan’s speeches, helped by Trajan’s wife, Plotina. At 28, Hadrian married a woman named Sabina; he had hopes for the marriage, but it turned out unhappy.

He had affairs with married women during this time. Hadrian was accused for using these affairs to forward himself politically, but he says he was really only drawn by beauty; his affairs were another study of art. He enjoyed them, but never really understood women, or at least not their inner minds. The world of women seems a narrow domain to him, and none of them could break his heart. He recalls one mistress he took delight in, who borrowed a great deal of money from him, but never really loved him.

Hadrian did not enjoy the triumph Trajan celebrated for his Dacian war, thinking the celebrations were a gory excess. Moreover, the victory did not last long. When the Sarmatians attacked again, Hadrian was sent to fight the Dacians (one of the Sarmatian peoples) as governor of Pannonia. He could see that the plan for continued conquest was unsustainable. He was disciplined in his leadership of the army and felt the legions respected him. He did what he could to improve civil administration, but the atrocities he saw and ordered sickened and aged him.

Hadrian’s distaste for the policy of conquest grew during his first consulate, when he first began to gather a loyal group of supporters. He did not dare defy the emperor, but spoke at length about possible reform with Trajan’s advisor, Licinius Sura, before Sura died. As his friends and responsibilities grew, so did his enemies, including a man called Lusius Quietus.

During this time, Hadrian traveled to Greece and received one of the highest honors of his life: He was named archon of Athens. He hunted, spoke with philosophers, and felt in all ways the arts were superior.

Trajan came to Antioch with his household and his counselors, planning to invade the Parthian Empire. An earthquake struck Antioch, which Hadrian thought later was an omen. He felt Trajan was aging, ailing, and fanatically obsessed with the riches and wonder of the East. Hadrian thought sound commercial treaties a better strategy than conquest, but between the choice of obedience or revolt, he chose outward obedience. He knew Trajan did not like him, but Plotina was on his side; still, no one could convince Trajan to declare his heir. Hadrian admired Plotina and felt they agreed on much; he has thought her one of his dearest and closest friends, to whom he showed parts of himself he would let no one else see.

Trajan crossed the Tigris and was successful in his first attacks. But then rebellions arose, fomented by Emperor Osroës. Trajan’s siege of Hatra cost many lives. Trajan grew increasingly ill and, but still refused to name his successor, Hadrian anticipated the same quarrels after the death of Alexander. He admits he wanted the imperial power to put into practice some of his reforms and “to become my full self before I died” (85). He was 40 and wanted the chance to leave a legacy, but, he insists, he wanted not to rule but to serve. He consulted oracles to find out if he would become emperor.

Trajan returned to Antioch defeated and weary. Hadrian recalls seeing him shed tears as he realized he would not realize his dream. Trajan set out for Rome, naming Hadrian his second in command but not naming him the official heir. Hadrian immediately began negotiating with Osroës for peace. A few days later, Plotina sent a letter reporting that Trajan had died on the voyage. Hadrian set out for the town of Selinus and learned that Trajan had designated Hadrian as his heir after all. Hadrian was emperor now. He doesn’t know how Plotina brought it about, and never dared ask. He knew there would be detractors but decided to show he was worthy of wielding power. He attended Trajan’s funeral pyre and then returned to Antioch, finally able to look toward the future.