Seneca

Seneca, LUCIUS ANNAEUS, Roman sage, was born at Corduba, in Spain, about the commencement of the Christian era, and was taken to Rome at an early age. He became an advocate of some note, but was banished by Claudius to Corsica for eight years on a charge brought against him by Messalina of scandalons fame. Agrippina, after her marriage with Claudius, procured, in 42 A.D., his recall, and he was appointed tutor to her son Nero, with whom he became a great favourite. He acquired enormous riches, and these were probably the cause of his dowmfall; for it is believed that the charge of conspiracy brought against him by Nero in 65 was merely a pretext for obtaining his wealth. He was ordered to destroy himself, and succeeded in doing so after some trouble. He was a Stoic and a sage, but he did not exert himself in inculcating virtue in his pupil, and he even excused Nero's murder of his mother. He wrote much, and his works have often been reprinted, notably De Consolatione, De Ira, De Vita Beata, De Animi Tranquillitate, and De Providentia. Some tragedies, which are artificial imitations of Greek models, are also ascribed to him.