Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer

Publius Aelius Hadrianus Afer was the father of Roman emperor Hadrian. Afer was originally from Spain; however, he was of Roman descent.

His mother was Ulpia, a sister to Roman general and senator Marcus Ulpius Traianus, the father of Roman emperor Trajan and his elder sister Ulpia Marciana. Ulpia Marciana and Trajan were his maternal cousins.

Afer’s paternal ancestors descended from Picenum (modern Marche and Abruzzi, Italy). Picenum became a Roman colony, probably about the time of Roman dictator Sulla.

His paternal ancestors left Italy and settled in Italica (near modern Seville, Spain). Italica was a city in Hispania Baetica founded by the Roman general Scipio Africanus Major about 205 BC, at the end of the Second Punic War. Hispania Baetica became a municipality under Julius Caesar or Roman emperor Caesar Augustus, and Hadrian later made it a colony. His grandfather’s grandfather was called Marullinus and was the first person in his family to become a Roman senator.

Afer married Domitia Paulina, a Roman woman from a distinguished family who came from Cadiz (modern Gades, Spain). Their children were a daughter, Domitia Paulina the Younger, and a son, Publius Aelius Hadrianus (Hadrian, 24 January 76 AD to 16 July 138 AD).

After reaching the praetorship, Afer died either in 85 or 86 AD. His son was put in the guardianship of his cousin Trajan and his wife Pompeia Plotina.

Sources:

• Historia Augusta - Life of Hadrian
• http://www.roman-emperors.org/hadrian.htm