Aelius
a Roman emperor, born at Rome, 76 A. D. Entering the army quite young, he became tribune of a legion, and married Sabina, the heiress of Trajan, whom he accompanied on his expeditions, and became successively prætor, governor of Pannonia, and consul. On Trajan's death, in 117, he assumed the government, made peace with the Persians, and remitted the debts of the Roman people. No monarch informed himself more by traveling than Adrian. In his reign, the Christians underwent a dreadful persecution. Adrian died at Baiæ, in 139. He had great virtues, which were, however, blended with as great vices.
ADRIAN I., Pope, born at Rome; succeeded Stephen III. in 772. Adrian died after a pontificate of nearly 24 years, 795. Adrian was a man of talent and dexterity.
ADRIAN II., born at Rome; succeeded Nicholas I. in the papal chair in 867.
During the pontificate of Adrian, Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople, withdrew from the Church of Rome. Adrian died in 872.
ADRIAN III., born at Rome; succeeded Marinus in 884, and died the following year. ADRIAN IV., the only Englishman who was ever raised to the dignity of the papal chair, succeeded Anastasius IV. in 1154. His name was Nicholas Breakespere; and for some time he filled a mean situation in the monastery of St.
Albans. Eugenius III. created him car- < dinal in 1146, and, in 1148, made him legate to Denmark and Norway, which nations he converted to the Christian faith. When nominated pope, he granted to Henry II. a bull for the conquest of Ireland. He died, supposedly of poison, in 1159.
ADRIAN V., a Genoese, succeeded Innocent in 1276, and died five weeks after his election.
ADRIAN VI., born at Utrecht, of an obscure family, advanced himself by his talents to the post of vice-chancellor of the University of Louvain. Ferdinand of Spain gave him the bishopric of Tortosa. After Ferdinand's death he was co-regent_of Spain with Cardinal Ximenes. He was elected pope in 1522, after the death of Leo X., chiefly through the influence of Charles V., whose authority was then spreading over Italy. He died in 1525.
ADRIAN COLLEGE ADULLAM