Sulpicius Asper was a centurion of ancient Rome who lived in the 1st century CE, and was one of the bodyguards of the Roman emperor Nero.
Asper was one of the central figures in the Pisonian conspiracy against Nero's life in 66 CE. The conspiracy was detected before it could put its plan in motion, and Asper was arrested. When Nero asked him why he conspired to kill him, Asper replied "There was no other remedy for your atrocities" (according to Tacitus) or "I couldn't help you any other way" (according to Cassius Dio). [1] [2] Asper was shortly thereafter beheaded with his co-consiprators, a death which Asper is said to have faced "with fortitude". [3] [4]
The historian Tacitus provides the names of at least 20 people involved with this conspiracy, but scholars suggest the conspiracy was largely driven by senior Praetorian guard officers like Asper. [5] Tacitus himself calls Asper, along with Subrius Flavus, the "most committed" among the conspirators, and suggests they instigated the entire thing. [6]
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Nero Julius Caesar was the adopted grandson and heir of the Roman emperor Tiberius, alongside his brother Drusus. Born into the prominent Julio-Claudian dynasty, Nero was the son of Tiberius' general and heir, Germanicus. After the deaths of his father and of Tiberius' son, Drusus the Younger, Nero and his brother Drusus were adopted together by Tiberius in September AD 23. As a result of being heirs of the emperor, he and his brother enjoyed accelerated political careers.
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This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain : Smith, William (1870). "Asper, Sulpicius". In Smith, William (ed.). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology . Vol. 1. p. 387.