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Who was Sextus Afranius Burrus?

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Seneca A 3rd century marble bust of Seneca, after an original bust of the 1st century; in the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Germany

Sextus Afranius Burrus (died 62 CE) was a prominent Roman official who served as the sole prefect of the Praetorian Guard from 51 to 62 CE.1

Appointed by Agrippina the Younger, Burrus played a critical role in securing the loyalty of the guard during the transition of power to Nero in 54 CE. Alongside the philosopher Seneca, Burrus served as a chief adviser to the young emperor, and together they were largely responsible for formulating imperial policies during the early years of Nero's reign.12

While Burrus and Seneca initially cooperated with Agrippina, they eventually removed her from power and were forced to condone her assassination in 59 CE. As their influence over Nero gradually waned, Burrus died in 62 CE—an event widely alleged to be a poisoning by the emperor—which prompted Seneca to resign from public life.12