Hadrian’s Bathhouse Assassination Attempt

The Roman Bath Where Hadrian Was Nearly Killed Even emperors weren't safe in the bath.

The mighty Hadrian, builder of walls and conqueror of empires, almost met his end

not in battle, but in a steamy Roman bathhouse. A hidden assassin, a loyal slave,

and a slippery marble floor—the scene was set for a shocking murder. But Hadrian survived,

thanks to a quick-thinking attendant. Why was he targeted in a place of relaxation? Was it a political

rival, a personal enemy, or just a really bad day at the spa? This near-miss changed

history. A dead Hadrian means no Hadrian's Wall, a different Roman Britain,

and perhaps a weaker empire. The steam held more than heat that day—it held the fate of