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Hershel Shanks

“I AND THE LEGIONS ARE WELL” was the typical beginning of an emperor’s report to the senate. When Hadrian wrote to the senate concerning the state of the war in Judea, however, he omitted that traditional salute. His soldiers were more hard-pressed than they had expected. Hadrian had to transfer one of his highest-ranking officers, Julius Severus, to Judea from Britain, promote a large number of marines from the naval fleet to the Tenth Legion, immediately making them citizens, and begin widespread conscription in his provinces to field an army large enough to put down the revolt.