The Time Travelling Emperor: Hadrian’s Mobility as Mirrored in Ancient and Medieval Historiography

Abstract

The paper aims to study Hadrian’s reputation as a ruler on the move in Latin, Greek, Syriac, and Byzantine histories and chronicles from the third to the twelfth century. The paper also assesses how early Roman, late antique and medieval historians’ opinions on mobile and sedentary modes of governing influenced Hadrian’s portrait. In addition, it will study how his attitudes towards Jews and Christians were depicted in conjunction with his journeys.