When assassins came for the Emperor Galba, all of his guards betrayed him except for one man alone…
𝐒𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐮𝐬 𝐃𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐬, ‘the single man among so many thousands that the sun beheld that day act worthily of the Roman Empire’.
Plutarch wrote that:
‘No man resisted or offered to stand up in his defence, save one only, a centurion, Sempronius Densus, the single man among so many thousands that the sun beheld that day act worthily of the Roman empire, who, though he had never received any favour from Galba, yet out of bravery and allegiance endeavoured to defend the litter. First, lifting up his switch of vine, with which the centurions correct the soldiers when disorderly, he called aloud to the aggressors, charging them not to touch their emperor. And when they came upon him hand-to-hand, he drew his sword, and made a defence for a long time, until at last he was cut under the knees and brought to the ground.’
The order in which Sempronius Densus and Galba died is disputed. Tacitus wrote that:
‘This day's work has provided modern times with the spectacle of a real act of heroism. The hero was Sempronius Densus, a centurion who belonged to one of the pretorian cohorts and had been appointed by Galba to watch over Piso's safety. With dagger drawn, he advanced to meet his fully armed enemies and denounced their mutiny. His words and actions diverted the attention of the assassins upon himself.’
‘This is why I have recorded his name, for he is most worthy of being mentioned.’
- Cassius Dio