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Ancient and modern

Hadrian’s advice for a new Defence Secretary

Either you must dominate completely, the emperor found, or give people their freedom. And we can only afford the second option

2 August 2014

9:00 AM

2 August 2014

9:00 AM

Michael Fallon, the new Defence Secretary, is a classicist by training. What lessons, if any, might he take from his study of the ancient world, especially in relation to military adventures in far-off places?

Hadrian offered the key insight on the problem when he became emperor in ad 117 and immediately abandoned some Roman provinces in the East: ‘Since we cannot control them, we must give them their freedom.’

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