10 July AD 138
Hadrian dies, Antoninus Pius emperor

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Although, by Roman standards, Hadrian's rule is generally peaceful and benign, it is marked by killings at the beginning and towards the end. One of his victims is said to have cursed Hadrian with a plea to the gods that the emperor should end his life 'longing for death but unable to die'. Something rather like this does, in fact, happen. Hadrian suffers from a painful and debilitating illness, but is prevented by his servants and followers from killing himself. He even tries to get one of his servants to kill him, marking the spot where the sword should be plunged into his chest. But the servant backs down at the last minute, leaving Hadrian to struggle on for a few weeks more before he eventually dies, having handed over the reins of government to his adopted successor, Antoninus Pius.

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