Lucius Antistius Burrus
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Biography
Lucius Antistius Burrus Adventus (died 188) of the gens Antistia was a Roman Senator that lived in the 2nd century. He was one of the sons-in-law of Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius and Roman Empress Faustina the Younger.
Burrus originally came from an African Roman Senatorial family from Thibilis, a town near Hippo Regius in the Africa Province. Although Burrus was born and raised in Thibilis, his family was not of very ancient lineage. He was the son of Quintus Antistius Adventus Aquilinus Postumus and Novia Crispina. Novia Crispina is known from an honorific inscription dedicated to her, when her husband served as Roman Governor in Arabia Petraea.
Quintus Antistius Adventus (born around mid-120s), during the rule of the Nerva–Antonine dynasty, served as a successful Military Tribune, Legatus, Quaestor, Public Construction Official and Governor in various provinces throughout the Roman Empire.
Sometime before the death of the Emperor Marcus Aurelius, Burrus was betrothed to and married the Emperor’s youngest daughter Vibia Aurelia Sabina. After Burrus married Aurelia Sabina, they returned and settled in Thibilis. When Marcus Aurelius died in 180, Aurelia Sabina’s brother Commodus succeeded her father as Roman Emperor. In 181, Burrus served as an ordinary consul.
In 188, Antistius Burrus was involved in a conspiracy against Commodus. When this conspiracy was uncovered, Antistius Burrus was put to death. After his death, Aurelia Sabina later remarried and it appears they had no children.