Densus

a man of equestrian rank of Nero. In A. D. 56, he was accused of being too favourably disposed towards Britannicus, but his accusers were not listened to. (Tac. Ann. 13.10.) [L.S]

a most distinguished and noble-minded man of the time of the emperor Galba. He was centurion of a praetorian cohort, and was commissioned by Galba to protect his adopted son Piso Licinianus, at the time when the insurrection against Galba broke out, A. D. 70. When the rebels approached to seek and murder Piso, Densus rushed out against them with his sword drawn, and thus turned the attention of the persecutors towards himself, so that Piso had an opportunity of escaping, though he was afterwards caught and put to death. (Tac. Hist. 1.43.) According to Dio Cassius (64.6) and Plutarch (Plut. Galb. 26) it was not Piso, but Galba himself who was thus defended and protected by Densus, who fell during the struggle. [L.S]