Lucius Nonius Asprenas (suspected poisoner)
Lucius Nonius Asprenas was a Roman Senator active during the Principate. He was notorious for being prosecuted for poisoning a number of people at a dinner party.
Biography
The son of
In around 9 BC, Nonius Asprenas was brought to trial after a number of his guests (reportedly some 130 people) died after attending a party which he hosted. Cassius Severus brought the charges against him, alleging that Asprenas had poisoned them. His defence was conducted by Gaius Asinius Pollio.[2] Augustus expressed his concern over the charges in the Senate and made an appearance at court, but did not make any statement while present. Nevertheless, the emperor's auctoritas was sufficient to win an acquittal for Asprenas.
That charges had been brought against him was enough to ruin his political career; not only did he forfeit his seat as one of the
Marriage and children
Nonius Asprenas married Quinctilla, a sister of
References
- ^ Syme (1986), p. 315.
- ^ Syme (1986), p. 70.
- ^ Syme (1986), pp. 315–316.
- ^ Stern (2006), p. 336.
- ^ Syme (1986), p. 318.
- ^ Levick, p. 36
Sources
- Stern, Gaius (2006). Women, Children, and Senators on the Ara Pacis Augustae: A Study of Augustus' Vision of a New World Order in 13 BC (Ph.D.). University of California, Berkeley.
- Syme, Ronald (1986). The Augustan Aristocracy. Clarendon Press.[ISBN missing]
- Levick, Barbara, Tiberius the Politician (1999)[ISBN missing]