Sempronius Densus

Last updated
Sempronius Densus
Died(69-01-15)January 15, 69
Rome, Roman Empire
Allegiance Roman Empire
Service/branch Praetorian Guard
Rank Centurion

Sempronius Densus was a centurion in the Praetorian Guard in the 1st century. He was bodyguard to the emperor's heir, and is remembered by history for his courage and loyalty in singlehandedly defending his charge from scores of armed assassins, while all his comrades deserted or switched sides.

Contents

Conspiracy

On January 10, 69 CE, Emperor Galba chose a man to become his deputy and heir. One of Galba's advisors had led Marcus Otho to expect to be appointed to this office, but instead Galba chose one Piso Licinianus. This unexpected choice led Otho to conspire to assassinate both of them and seize power.

Assassination and death

On January 15 Otho struck. Galba and Piso were being carried on litters through the street when they were accosted by a large company of renegade Praetorians in Otho's employ. The Praetorians were supposed to be the personal bodyguard of the emperor, but now they intended his death. Of all the soldiers present, only Sempronius Densus, who had been assigned by Galba to guard Piso, stood firm, while his colleagues either joined in the murder or melted away. [1] [2] [3] While Piso fled to seek a safe hiding place, Sempronius bought him time to escape, first remonstrating with the assassins and then fighting them to the death. [4]

At this point sources differ slightly. [5] According to Plutarch, Sempronius gave his life defending both Galba and Piso:

No man resisted or offered to stand up in his defence, save one only, a centurion, Sempronius Densus, the single man among so many thousands that the sun beheld that day act worthily of the Roman empire, who, though he had never received any favour from Galba, yet out of bravery and allegiance endeavoured to defend the litter. First, lifting up his switch of vine, with which the centurions correct the soldiers when disorderly, he called aloud to the aggressors, charging them not to touch their emperor. And when they came upon him hand-to-hand, he drew his sword, and made a defence for a long time, until at last he was cut under the knees and brought to the ground. [6]

After Sempronius finally fell, the assassins surrounded Galba and killed him.

Tacitus however describes Galba's death as occurring first in the order of events, followed by the centurion's last stand, in which Sempronius uses a pugio. [3] [7]

Dio Cassius simply relates:

Sempronius Densus, a centurion, defended him as long as he could, and finally, when he could accomplish nothing, let himself be slain over Galba's body. [8]

Suetonious entirely omits the death of Sempronius from his accounts on the deaths of Galba and Piso. [9]

Outcome

However, all of the sources agree on what happened next. While most of the assassins hacked Galba's corpse to pieces and paraded his severed head on a pole, two of them sought out Piso, who had taken refuge in the Temple of Vesta. They dragged him outside and killed him at the door. [4] [9]

Around 120 people later claimed credit for killing Galba and Piso, hoping that Otho would reward them. However, in April that year Otho was deposed by Vitellius, who replaced him as emperor. Vitellius found the list of their names and ordered them all executed. He also disbanded the Praetorian Guard (although the Guard was reinstated by the next emperor, Vespasian).

Although ultimately unsuccessful, Sempronius Densus's last stand is recorded by historians as being the only heroic act done in Rome that day. [10]

This is why I have recorded his name, for he is most worthy of being mentioned. — Dio Cassius.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Galba</span> Roman emperor from AD 68 to 69

Galba was Roman emperor, ruling from AD 68 to 69. He was the first emperor in the Year of the Four Emperors and assumed the throne following Emperor Nero's suicide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nero</span> 5th Roman emperor from AD 54 to 68

Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus was a Roman emperor and the final emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, reigning from AD 54 until his death in AD 68.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Otho</span> Roman emperor in AD 69

Otho was Roman emperor, ruling for three months from 15 January to 16 April 69. He was the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Vitellius</span> Roman emperor in AD 69

Aulus Vitellius was Roman emperor for eight months, from 19 April to 20 December AD 69. Vitellius became emperor following the quick succession of the previous emperors Galba and Otho, in a year of civil war known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vitellius added the honorific Germanicus to his name instead of Caesar upon his accession. Like his predecessor, Otho, Vitellius attempted to rally public support to his cause by honoring and imitating Nero who remained popular in the empire.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">AD 69</span> Calendar year

AD 69 (LXIX) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Julian calendar. In the Roman Empire, it was known as the Year of the consulship of Galba and Vinius. The denomination AD 69 for this year has been used since the early medieval period, when the Anno Domini calendar era became the prevalent method in Europe for naming years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">60s</span> Seventh decade of the first century AD

The 60s decade ran from January 1, AD 60, to December 31, AD 69.

Ofonius Tigellinus was a prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, from 62 until 68, during the reign of emperor Nero. Tigellinus gained imperial favour through his acquaintance with Nero's mother Agrippina the Younger, and was appointed prefect upon the death of his predecessor Sextus Afranius Burrus, a position Tigellinus held first with Faenius Rufus and then Nymphidius Sabinus.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Praetorian Guard</span> Bodyguards of the Roman emperors

The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Year of the Four Emperors</span> Battles for succession to rule the Roman Empire (AD 69)

The Year of the Four Emperors, AD 69, was the first civil war of the Roman Empire, during which four emperors ruled in succession: Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian. It is considered an important interval, marking the transition from the Julio-Claudians, the first imperial dynasty, to the Flavian dynasty. The period witnessed several rebellions and claimants, with shifting allegiances and widespread turmoil in Rome and the provinces.

Helvidius Priscus, Stoic philosopher and statesman, lived during the reigns of Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius and Vespasian.

When Vespasian sent for Helvidius Priscus and commanded him not to go into the senate, he replied, "It is in your power not to allow me to be a member of the senate, but so long as I am, I must go in." "Well, go in then," says the emperor, "but say nothing." "Do not ask my opinion, and I will be silent." "But I must ask your opinion." "And I must say what I think right." "But if you do, I shall put you to death." "When then did I tell you that I am immortal? You will do your part, and I will do mine: it is your part to kill; it is mine to die, but not in fear: yours to banish me; mine to depart without sorrow." Epictetus, Discourses, 1.2.19–21

Aulus Caecina Alienus was a Roman general active during the Year of the Four Emperors.

The Battle of Bedriacum refers to two battles fought during the Year of the Four Emperors near the village of Bedriacum, about 35 kilometers (22 mi) from the town of Cremona in northern Italy. The fighting in fact took place between Bedriacum and Cremona, and the battles are sometimes called "First Cremona" and "Second Cremona".

Titus Vinius was a Roman general and one of the most powerful men in Rome during the reign of the Emperor Galba.

Lucius Calpurnius Piso Frugi Licinianus (38–69) was a Roman nobleman who lived in the 1st century. His adoption by the Roman emperor Galba on 10 January 69 AD precipitated their joint murder by Otho, who had expected to be adopted instead. Otho then became the second emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors.

Titus Flavius T. f. T. n. Sabinus was a Roman politician and soldier. A native of Reate, he was the elder son of Titus Flavius Sabinus and Vespasia Polla, and brother of the Emperor Vespasian.

Marcus Cluvius Rufus was a Roman consul, senator, governor, and historian who was mentioned on several occasions by Tacitus, Suetonius, Cassius Dio, Josephus and Plutarch.

Cornelius Fuscus was a Roman general who fought campaigns under the Emperors of the Flavian dynasty. He first distinguished himself as one of Vespasian's most ardent supporters during the civil war of 69 AD, known as the Year of the Four Emperors. Vespasian's son Domitian employed Fuscus as prefect of the Praetorian Guard, a post he held from 81 until his death.

Cornelius Laco was a prefect of the Roman vigiles under Claudius and later of the imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard under Emperor Galba from 68 until his death on 15 January of AD 69. Laco acceded to this office upon the suicide of the previous emperor Nero, replacing Gaius Ophonius Tigellinus as head of the Guard.

The gens Vitellia was a family of ancient Rome, which rose from obscurity in imperial times, and briefly held the Empire itself in AD 69. The first of this gens to obtain the consulship was Aulus Vitellius, uncle of the emperor Vitellius, in AD 32.

Fabius Valens of Anagnia was a Roman commander favoured by Nero. Valens was an undisciplined character but not without talent; he tried to portray himself as witty by behaving frivolously.

References

  1. ↑ Keener, Craig S. (2019). Christobiography: Memory, History, and the Reliability of the Gospels. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing. ISBN   978-1-4674-5676-0.
  2. ↑ Lemprière, John (1839). A Classical Dictionary: Containing a Copious Account of All Proper Names Mentioned in Ancient Authors, with the Value of Coins, Weights, and Measures Used Among the Greeks and Romans, and a Chronological Table. T. Cadell.
  3. 1 2 Flessen, Bonnie J. (2011). An Exemplary Man: Cornelius and Characterization in Acts 10. Wipf and Stock Publishers. ISBN   978-1-61097-294-9.
  4. 1 2 Wellesley, Kenneth (2002). Year of the Four Emperors. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-134-56227-5.
  5. ↑ Miller, N. P. (April 1977). "Tacitus' Narrative Technique". Greece & Rome. 24 (1): 13–22. doi:10.1017/S0017383500019574. ISSN   1477-4550.
  6. ↑ "Plutarch – 'The Death of Galba'". Intranet.grundel.nl. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  7. ↑ "Cornelius Tacitus — 'The Murder of Galba' (The Histories, para. 12-50)". Ourcivilisation.com. Retrieved 2017-10-02.
  8. ↑ "Cassius Dio – Epitome of Book 63". Penelope.uchicago.edu. Retrieved 2009-11-28.
  9. 1 2 Mossman, Judith (1997). Plutarch and His Intellectual World. Classical Press of Wales. ISBN   978-1-910589-57-1.
  10. ↑ Keitel, Elizabeth E. (Elizabeth Eva) (2006). "Sententia and Structure in Tacitus Histories 1.12-49". Arethusa. 39 (2): 219–244. doi:10.1353/are.2006.0014. ISSN   1080-6504. S2CID   162223836.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.