Lucius Ceionius Commodus, renamed Lucius Aurelius Caesar after adoption, became Emperor Hadrian's designated heir during a severe illness when Hadrian anticipated his death. Hadrian dispatched Ceionius to fetch architect Lucius Modestus, ordering a public bathhouse as Ceionius's inaugural imperial project. Unbeknownst to all, Hadrian intended Ceionius only as a temporary placeholder until Marcus Verus, then fifteen, matured enough to rule. Ceionius displayed traits that unsettled the imperial court: a notorious womanizer, his "flaky" and "obnoxious" conduct eroded confidence in his leadership. After a crocodile incident briefly renewed Hadrian's resolve to reign, Ceionius persisted in his indiscretions. He predeceased Hadrian, never ascending the throne. This death triggered a succession crisis, heightening fears of imperial instability while clearing the path for Marcus Verus to emerge as Hadrian's ultimate successor. Within Lucius Modestus's architectural pursuits, Ceionius maintained antagonism toward the architect. He resented Antoninus Pius's rise as Hadrian's successor, partly fueled by Modestus's bathhouse innovations enhancing Antoninus's prestige.