Le Centurion qui Combattit Seul Contre la Garde Prétorienne - Curiosités Historiques

Sempronius Densus entered the Roman history as one of the bravest and most loyal soldiers. All this because he protected the emperor against the Praetorian Guard. This is what we are going to talk about in today's video. The only information on this centurion comes from Tacitus, Plutarch and Cassius Dio. According to their writings, Sempronius was a centurion of the Praetorian Guard in the first century and worked as bodyguard of Emperor Galba. In 69 AD, Galba was aged and had to choose someone to succeed him on the throne. Otto, who had supported him as emperor at the death of Nero, hoped that Galba would make him the same. But this will not happen. At the beginning of the year 69, on January 10, Galba appointed the young Piso Lysianus as heir to the throne. From then on, the angry Otto decided to usurp the throne and kill Galba and Piso. He put his plan into action by suing the Praetorian Guard shortly after Piso's nomination. On January 15, five days after Galba's election, Otto used the support and protection of the Praetorian Guard to proclaim himself emperor. The Praetorians, who were supposed to protect Galba, now wanted to kill him, him and his successor. That day, Galba and Piso were carried into the streets when a large group of Praetorians appeared to assassinate them. Sempronius, who always protected the emperor, made a difficult decision. He noticed that all the soldiers around him had decided to support the conspirators. But Sempronius remained faithful to Galba and Piso. He was pushed to change sides, but he said no before the conspiracy. At the same time, he tried to convince the Praetorians to give up the assassination, but in vain. Plutarch wrote this about Sempronius' attitude. No man resisted or offered to defend Galba, except Sempronius Densus, the only of the thousands of men that the sun, that day, quickly acted with dignity in the Roman Empire. Although he never received any favor from Galba, he defended his offspring with his bravery and loyalty. While Piso fled, Sempronius, without a trace, began to fight alone his former colleagues. Plutarch recounted the details of the episode. First, raising his vine stick, with which the centurions punish the soldiers, he intercepted the attackers loudly, ordering them not to touch the emperor. Then, when they carried him to the end, he drew his sword and defended himself for a long time, until finally he fell to his knees, massacred, and collapsed on the ground. Sempronius, who was only fighting with his dagger, could not resist for a long time. When he fell to the ground, the Praetorians brutally killed Galba, then Piso, who hid in a temple. Otto became emperor and reigned only three months on Rome. In April 69, Vitellius became emperor and ordered the execution of all participants in the murder of Galba, Piso and Sempronius. Sempronius' heroic act left the Romans a legacy of courage and loyalty. This is why the Roman historian Cassius Dio describes him as worthy of mention. If you liked discovering the story of this brave Roman centurion, don't hesitate to like this video and subscribe to the channel.