Both Trajan (Marcus) and Hadrian (Publius) were possibly born and raised on the Iberian peninsula (Spain & Portugal). In fact, Trajan is often considered the first “non-Italian” Roman emperor.
As you’ll see later in our saga, Gaius spent some of his formative years in Spain as Marcus’s ward. Here’s a spectacular virtual reconstruction of a small town in the Roman province of Lusitania called Ammaia. Extraordinary graphics and informative narration. I especially adore the ‘ghost Romans’ wandering about the place. 😀
JPK