The Journey of Hadrian 117-118 CE: From Antioch to Rome: Travel, Power, and the Making of an Emperor

Illustration

by Simeon Netchev
published on 06 December 2021

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The Journey of Hadrian 117-118 CE — This map illustrates the early travels of Emperor Hadrian across the Roman Empire between 117 and 118 CE, tracing his journey from Antioch in the east to Rome in the west. Covering vast territories, his route reflects both the expanse of Roman control and the political urgency of consolidating imperial power.

Following the death of Emperor Trajan (reigned 98 - 117 CE) in 117 CE, Hadrian (reigned 117 - 138 CE) assumed the throne amid unrest and frontier challenges. His swift return to Rome was more than ceremonial—it was a calculated move to affirm authority, stabilize the empire, and signal continuity. The journey also set the tone for his reign, which would later be marked by extensive travel, administrative reform, and a focus on securing rather than expanding Rome’s borders.

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About the Author

Simeon Netchev

Simeon is a freelance visual designer and history teacher, passionate about the human stories that shape the past. He believes every image should tell a story and invite interaction, while every map should lead on a journey — blending imagination with e

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Uploaded by Simeon Netchev, published on 06 December 2021. The copyright holder has published this content under the following license: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs. This licence only allows others to download this content and share it with others as long as the author is credited, but they can't change the content in any way or use it commercially. When republishing on the web a hyperlink back to the original content source URL must be included. Please note that content linked from this page may have different licensing terms.

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Cite This Work

APA Style

Netchev, S. (2021, December 06). The Journey of Hadrian 117-118 CE. World History Encyclopedia. Retrieved from https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14936/the-journey-of-hadrian-117-118-ce/

Chicago Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Journey of Hadrian 117-118 CE." World History Encyclopedia. Last modified December 06, 2021. https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14936/the-journey-of-hadrian-117-118-ce/.

MLA Style

Netchev, Simeon. "The Journey of Hadrian 117-118 CE." World History Encyclopedia. World History Encyclopedia, 06 Dec 2021, https://www.worldhistory.org/image/14936/the-journey-of-hadrian-117-118-ce/. Web. 14 Jul 2025.