Sextus Afranius Burrus
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Sextus Afranius Burrus | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 |
| Died | 62 (aged 60–61) |
| Allegiance | Roman Empire |
| Service years | 50 AD – 62 |
| Rank | Praetorian prefect |
| Commands | Praetorian Guard |
Sextus Afranius Burrus (born AD 1 in Vasio, Gallia Narbonensis;[1] died AD 62) was a prefect of the Praetorian Guard and was, together with Seneca the Younger, an advisor to the Roman emperor Nero, making him a very powerful man in the early years of Nero's reign.[2] The cognomen "Burrus" is Latin for "red" or "reddish-brown", likely referring to his hair color.[3]
Emperor Claudius
Agrippina the Younger chose him as Prefect in 51 to secure her son Nero's place as emperor after the death of Claudius.[4]
Emperor Nero
For the first eight years of Nero's rule, Burrus and Nero's former tutor Seneca helped maintain a stable government. Burrus acquiesced to Nero's murder of Agrippina the Younger but lost his influence over Nero anyway.
