Sextus Attius Suburanus
Encyclopedia
Sextus Attius Suburanus Aemilianus, commonly abbreviated as Suburanus (date of birth or death unknown), was a prefect
of the Roman
imperial bodyguard
, known as the Praetorian Guard
, during the reign of emperor
Trajan
, from 98
until 101
. He acceeded to the office upon the execution of his predecessor Casperius Aelianus
, who had been responsible for an insurrection against the previous emperor Nerva
. Surburanus was a hard worker, apparently sometimes staying all night to finish work. Trajan
was also truthful to Surburanus, by telling him, upon Suburanus ascending, and handing him his Praetorian sword, 'If I rule well, use this sword for me. If I rule badly, use it against me.' After his tenure as Praetorian prefect, Suburanus was inducted into the Roman Senate
, held the suffect consulship in 101
, and then later the consulship
in 104
together with Marcus Asinius Marcellus
.
Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect was the title of a high office in the Roman Empire. Originating as the commander of the Praetorian Guard, the office gradually acquired extensive legal and administrative functions, with its holders becoming the Emperor's chief aides...
of the Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
imperial bodyguard
Bodyguard
A bodyguard is a type of security operative or government agent who protects a person—usually a famous, wealthy, or politically important figure—from assault, kidnapping, assassination, stalking, loss of confidential information, terrorist attack or other threats.Most important public figures such...
, known as the Praetorian Guard
Praetorian Guard
The Praetorian Guard was a force of bodyguards used by Roman Emperors. The title was already used during the Roman Republic for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio family around 275 BC...
, during the reign of emperor
Roman Emperor
The Roman emperor was the ruler of the Roman State during the imperial period . The Romans had no single term for the office although at any given time, a given title was associated with the emperor...
Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
, from 98
98
Year 98 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Augustus and Traianus...
until 101
101
Year 101 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Paetus...
. He acceeded to the office upon the execution of his predecessor Casperius Aelianus
Casperius Aelianus
Casperius Aelianus, who served as Praetorian Prefect under the emperors Domitian and Nerva, was a Praetorian Prefect loyal to the Roman Emperor Domitian, the last of the Flavian dynasty...
, who had been responsible for an insurrection against the previous emperor Nerva
Nerva
Nerva , was Roman Emperor from 96 to 98. Nerva became Emperor at the age of sixty-five, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty. Under Nero, he was a member of the imperial entourage and played a vital part in exposing the Pisonian conspiracy of 65...
. Surburanus was a hard worker, apparently sometimes staying all night to finish work. Trajan
Trajan
Trajan , was Roman Emperor from 98 to 117 AD. Born into a non-patrician family in the province of Hispania Baetica, in Spain Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian. Serving as a legatus legionis in Hispania Tarraconensis, in Spain, in 89 Trajan supported the emperor against...
was also truthful to Surburanus, by telling him, upon Suburanus ascending, and handing him his Praetorian sword, 'If I rule well, use this sword for me. If I rule badly, use it against me.' After his tenure as Praetorian prefect, Suburanus was inducted into the Roman Senate
Roman Senate
The Senate of the Roman Republic was a political institution in the ancient Roman Republic, however, it was not an elected body, but one whose members were appointed by the consuls, and later by the censors. After a magistrate served his term in office, it usually was followed with automatic...
, held the suffect consulship in 101
101
Year 101 was a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Traianus and Paetus...
, and then later the consulship
Roman consul
A consul served in the highest elected political office of the Roman Republic.Each year, two consuls were elected together, to serve for a one-year term. Each consul was given veto power over his colleague and the officials would alternate each month...
in 104
104
Year 104 was a leap year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Suburanus and Marcellus...
together with Marcus Asinius Marcellus
Marcus Asinius Marcellus
Marcus Asinius Marcellus was Consul in 54 along with Marcus Acilius Aviola at the Emperor Claudius' death. He was the son of Marcus Asinius Agrippa, Consul in 25 who died in 26 and described by Tacitus as "not unworthy of his ancestors"...
.