 Shortly before his death, Trajan was said to have composed a letter naming Hadrian as his adopted son and successor.Suspicions were raised because the copy of the letter that reached Rome bore Plotina's signature.It was rumoured that Attianus and the Empress Plotina had been lovers, both very fond of Hadrian their ward, and both present at Trajan's deathbed at Selinus in Cilicia in August 117, the two helped secure Hadrian's succession by forging Trajan's will.