Praetorian Guard

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Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard was a special force of guard

Guard

Guard may refer to:...
s used by Roman

Roman Empire

List of Roman Emperors

The title of Roman Emperor, although in some ways a modern concept, effectively summarises the position held by those individuals who wielded power in the Roman Empire....
s. Before being appropriated for the use of the Emperors' personal guards, the title was used for the guards of Roman generals, at least since the rise to prominence of the Scipio

Scipio (cognomen)

File:Scipio.jpgScipio is a Ancient Rome Roman naming convention representing the Cornelii Scipiones, a branch of the Cornelius family....
family around 275 BC. Constantine I

Constantine I

Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus , commonly known in English_language as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine , was Roman Emperor from 306, and the undisputed holder of that office from 324 until his death in 337....
dissolved the Guard in the fourth century AD.

term "Praetorian" derived from the tent of the commanding general or praetor

Praetor

Praetor was a Title#Titles_for_heads_of_state granted by the government of Ancient Rome to men acting in one of two official capacities: the commander of an army, either before it was mustered or more typically in the field, or an elected Magistratus assigned duties that varied depending on the historical period....
of a Roman army

Roman army

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Encyclopedia

The Praetorian Guard was a special force of guard

Guard

Guard may refer to:...
s used by Roman

Roman Empire

List of Roman Emperors

Scipio (cognomen)

File:Scipio.jpgScipio is a Ancient Rome Roman naming convention representing the Cornelii Scipiones, a branch of the Cornelius family....
family around 275 BC. Constantine I

Constantine I

History

The term "Praetorian" derived from the tent of the commanding general or praetor

Praetor

Roman army

The Roman Army was employed by the Roman Kingdom, the Roman Republic and later the Roman Empire, as part of the Roman military. Its most important infantry constituent for much of its history was the Roman legion....
in the field—the praetorium
Praetorium

Praetorium was originally the name of the headquarters of a Ancient Rome army. The praetorium was the commander's tent or building in a Roman fortification, a castra or castellum....
. They were an elite recruitment of Roman citizens. It was a habit of many Roman generals to choose from the ranks a private force of soldiers to act as guards of the tent or the person. They consisted of both infantry and cavalry. In time, this cohort

Cohort (military unit)

A cohort is a fairly large military unit, generally consisting of one type of soldier....
came to be known as the cohors praetoria, and various notable figures possessed one, including Julius Caesar

Julius Caesar

'Gaius Julius Caesar' , July 13, 100 BC ? March 15, 44 BC,) was a Roman Republic military and political leader. He played a critical role in the transformation of the Roman Republic into the Roman Empire....
, Mark Antony

Mark Antony

Marcus Antonius , known in English as Marc Antony, was a Roman Republic politician and General. He was an important supporter and the best friend of Julius Caesar as a military commander and administrator, being Caesar's second cousin, once removed, by his mother Julia Antonia....
and Augustus (Octavian). As Caesar discovered with the Legio X Equestris

Legio X Equestris

Legio X Equestris was a Roman legion, levied by Julius Caesar. Legio X was the "most famous legion of its day", in part due to the fact that it took the leading role in most of Caesar's Gallic battles....
, a powerful unit more dangerous than its fellow legions was desirable in the field. When Augustus became the first ruler of the Roman Empire

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
in 27 BC, he decided such a formation was useful not only on the battlefield but in politics also. Thus, from the ranks of the legions throughout the provinces, Augustus recruited the Praetorian Guard.

Original form of the Guard

The group that was formed initially differed greatly from the later Guard, which would stoop to the assassination

Assassination

Assassination is the targeted killing of a public figure. Assassinations may be prompted by ideology, politics, or military reasons. Additionally, assassins may be motivated by contract killing, revenge, or celebrity or may be mental disorder....
of Emperors. While Augustus understood the need to have a protector in the maelstrom of Rome

Rome

Rome is the capital city of Italy and Lazio, and is Italy's largest and most populous city, with 2,724,347 residents in an urban area of some ....
, he was careful to uphold the Republican veneer of his regime. Thus he allowed only nine cohort

Cohort

Cohort may refer to:* Cohort * Cohort , a group of proximate data and/or operations* Cohort , a group of subjects with a common defining characteristic ? typically age group...
s to be formed, originally of 500, then increased to 1,000 men each, and only three were kept on duty at any given time in the capital. A small number of detached cavalry units (turmae (sing. turma) of 30 men each were also organized. While they patrolled inconspicuously in the palace and major buildings, the others were stationed in the towns surrounding Rome; no threats were possible from these individual cohorts. This system was not radically changed with the appointment by Augustus in 2 BC of two Praetorian prefect

Praetorian prefect

Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314....
s, Quintus Ostorius Scapula and Publius Salvius Aper, although organization and command were improved.

Augustus's death on August 19, 14

Year 14 was a common year starting on Monday of the Julian calendar....
, marked the end of the Praetorian calm. Augustus would be the sole emperor who could command the Praetorians' complete loyalty. From his death, the Praetorians would serve whatever ends they believed were to their personal benefit. Through the machinations of their ambitious prefect, Lucius Aelius Sejanus

Sejanus

Lucius Aelius Seianus , commonly known as Sejanus, was an ambitious soldier, friend and confidant of the Roman Emperor Tiberius. An Equestrian by birth, Sejanus rose to power as Praetorian Prefect of the Roman imperial bodyguard, known as the Praetorian Guard, of which he was commander from 14 AD until his death in 31....
, the Guard was brought from the Italian barracks into Rome itself. In 23, Sejanus convinced Tiberius

Tiberius

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero , was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37....
to have the Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria were the ancient barracks of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome.According to the Roman historian Suetonius, the barracks were built in 23 by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperor Tiberius, in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards....
(the camp of the Praetorians) built just outside of Rome. One of these cohorts held the daily guard at the imperial palace. Henceforth the entire Guard was at the disposal of the emperors, but the rulers were now equally at the mercy of the Praetorians. The reality of this was seen in 31 when Tiberius

Tiberius

Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero , was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37....
was forced to rely upon his own cohors praetoria against partisans of Sejanus. Although the Praetorian Guard proved faithful to the aging Tiberius, their potential political power had been made clear.

While campaigning, the Praetorians were the equal of any formation in the Roman Army. Seldom used in the early reigns, they were quite active by 69. They fought well at the first battle of Bedriacum

Battle of Bedriacum

The Battle of Bedriacum refers to two battles fought during the Year of the four emperors near the village of Bedriacum , about 35 kilometers from the town of Cremona in northern Italy....
for Otho

Otho

Domitian

Titus Flavius Domitianus , commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death. Domitian was the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96, encompassing the reigns of Domitian's father Vespasian , his elder brother Titus , and that of Domitian himself...
and Trajan

Trajan

Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 98 until his death in 117. Born Marcus Ulpius Traianus into a nonpatrician family in the Hispania Baetica province , Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian, serving as a general in the Roman army along the Limes G...
, the guard took part in wars from Dacia

Dacia

In ancient geography, Dacia was the land of the Dacians. It was named by the ancient Greeks "Getae". Dacia was a large district of East-Central Europe, bounded on the north by the Carpathian Mountains, on the south by the Danube, on the west by the Tisia or Tisza, on the east by the Tyras or Dniester, now in eastern Moldova....
to Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia

Mesopotamia is the area of the Tigris-Euphrates river system, along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers, largely corresponding to modern Iraq, as well as some parts of northeastern Syria, some parts of southeastern Turkey, and some parts of the Khuzestan Province of southwestern Iran....
, while with Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important stoicism philosophy....
, years were spent on the Danubian frontier. Throughout the 3rd century, the Praetorians assisted the emperors in various campaigns.

Political role

Following the death of Sejanus

Sejanus

Donativum

Donativum was the name given to the gifts of money dispersed to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperors....
(imperial gift) promised by Tiberius, the Guards began to play an increasingly ambitious and bloody game in the Empire. With the right amount of money, or at will, they assassinated emperors, bullied their own prefects

Praetorian prefect

Caligula

Gaius Julius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , more commonly known by his nickname Caligula , was the third Roman Emperor, reigning from 16 March 37 until his assassination on 24 January 41....
was killed by conspirators from the senatorial class and from the Guard. The Praetorians placed Claudius

Claudius

Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I was the fourth Roman Emperor, a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24, AD 41 to his death in AD 54....
on the throne, daring the Senate to oppose their decision.

During 69, the Year of the Four Emperors

Year of the Four Emperors

The Year of the Four Emperors was a year in the history of the Roman Empire, AD 69, in which four emperors ruled in a remarkable succession. These four emperors were Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Vespasian....
, after the emperor Galba

Galba

Servius Sulpicius Galba , also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperor from June 8, 68 until his death. He was the first emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors....
failed to provide a donative for the Praetorians, they transferred their allegiance to Otho

Otho

For other uses, see Otho .Marcus Salvius Otho , also called Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperors from 15 January to 16 April 69, the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors....
and assassinated the emperor. Otho acquiesced in the Praetorians' demands and granted them the right to appoint their own prefects, ensuring their loyalty. After defeating Otho, Vitellius

Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year....
disbanded the guard and established a new one sixteen cohorts strong. Vespasian

Vespasian

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian , was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 69 A.D. until his death in 79 A.D. Vespasian was the founder of the short lived Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 A.D....
relied in the war against Vitellius upon the disgruntled cohorts the emperor had dismissed, and reduced the number of cohorts back to nine upon becoming emperor himself. As a further safeguard, he appointed his son, Titus

Titus

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus , was a Roman Emperor who briefly reigned from 79 until his death in 81. Titus was the second emperor of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96, encompassing the reigns of Titus's father Vespasian , Titus himself and his younger brother Domitian ....
as Praetorian Prefect

Praetorian prefect

Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314....
.

While the Guard had the power to kill off emperors, it had no role in government administration, unlike the personnel of the palace, the Senate, and the bureaucracy. Often after an outrageous act of violence, revenge by the new ruler was forthcoming. In 193, Didius Julianus

Didius Julianus

Marcus Didius Severus Julianus was briefly Roman Emperor from 28 March 193 to 1 June 193. He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax....
purchased the Empire from the Guard for a vast sum, when the Guard auctioned it off after killing Pertinax

Pertinax

Publius Helvius Pertinax, commonly known as Pertinax , was a Roman emperor who briefly reigned from December 31 192 until his death on March 28 193....
. Later that year Septimius Severus

Septimius Severus

Lucius Septimius Severus was a Roman Empire general, and Roman Emperor from April 14 193 to 211. He was born in what is now the Libyan part of Rome's historic Africa Province, making him the first emperor to be born in the Roman province of Africa Province....
marched into Rome, disbanded the Praetorians and started a new formation from his own Pannonian Legions. Unruly mobs in Rome fought often with the Praetorians in Maximinus Thrax

Maximinus Thrax

Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus , also known as Maximinus Thrax and Maximinus I, was a Roman Emperor .Maximinus is described by several ancient sources as the first barbarian who wore the imperial purple and the first emperor never to set foot in Rome....
's reign in vicious street battles.

In 271, Aurelian

Aurelian

Lucius Domitius Aurelianus , known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor , was the second of several highly successful "soldier-emperors" who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth....
sailed east to destroy the power of Palmyra, Syria, with a force of legionary detachments, Praetorian cohorts, and other cavalry units. The Palmyrenes were easily defeated. This led to the orthodox view that Diocletian

Diocletian

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born Diocles and commonly known as Diocletian , was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305....
and his colleagues evolved the sacer comitatus (the field escort of the emperors), which included field units that utilized a selection process and command structure modeled after the old Praetorian cohorts, but was not of uniform composition and was much larger than a Praetorian cohort.

Guard's twilight years

In 284, Diocletian

Diocletian

Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born Diocles and commonly known as Diocletian , was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305....
reduced the status of the Praetorians; they were no longer to be part of palace life, as Diocletian lived in Nicomedia

Nicomedia

Nicomedia was founded by Nicomedes I of Bithynia at the head of the Gulf of Astacus which opens to the Propontis. In earlier antiquity, the city was called Astacus or Olbia ....
, some 60 miles (100 km) from Byzantium

Byzantium

Byzantium was an Ancient Greece city, which was founded by Greeks colonists from Megara in 667 BC and named after their king Byzas or Byzantas ....
in Asia Minor. Two new corps, the Jovians and Herculians

Herculians

The Jovians and Herculians were the senior palatine imperial guard units of the Emperors of the late Roman Empire from the 290s until the 7th century....
(named after the gods Jove, or Jupiter, and Hercules, associated with the senior and junior emperor), replaced the Praetorians as the personal protectors of the emperors, a practice that remained intact with the tetrarchy

Tetrarchy

Tetrarchy can be applied to any system of government where power is divided between four individuals. The term is usually used to refer to the tetrarchy instituted by Roman Emperor Diocletian in 293 which lasted until c. 313....
. By the time Diocletian retired on May 1, 305

305

Events...
, their Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria were the ancient barracks of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome.According to the Roman historian Suetonius, the barracks were built in 23 by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperor Tiberius, in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards....
seems to have housed only a minor garrison of Rome.

The final act of the Praetorians in imperial history started in 306, when Maxentius

Maxentius

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius was Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Galerius, also an emperor....
, son of the retired emperor Maximian

Maximian

Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius , commonly referred to as Maximian, was Caesar from July 285 and Augustus from April 1, 286 to May 1, 305....
, was passed over as a successor: the troops took matters into their own hands and elevated him to the position of emperor in Italy on October 28. Caesar

Caesar (title)

Caesar , Latin: Caesar , is a title of emperor character. It derives from the Roman naming convention#Cognomen of Julius Caesar, the Roman dictator....
Flavius Valerius Severus

Flavius Valerius Severus

Flavius Valerius Severus was a Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 307.Severus was of humble birth, born in the Illyrian provinces around the middle of the third century AD....
, following the orders of Galerius

Galerius

Galerius Maximianus , formally Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311....
, attempted to disband the Guard but only managed to lead the rest of them in revolting and joining Maxentius. When Constantine the Great, launching an invasion of Italy in 312, forced a final confrontation at the Milvian Bridge

Battle of Milvian Bridge

The Battle of the Milvian Bridge took place between the Roman Emperors Constantine I and Maxentius on October 28, 312. Constantine won the battle and started on the path that led him to end the Tetrarchy and become the sole ruler of the Roman Empire....
, the Praetorian cohorts made up most of Maxentius' army. Later in Rome, the victorious Constantine definitively disbanded the Praetorian Guard. The soldiers were sent out to various corners of the Empire, and the Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria

Castra Praetoria were the ancient barracks of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome.According to the Roman historian Suetonius, the barracks were built in 23 by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperor Tiberius, in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards....
was demolished. For over 300 years they had served, and the destruction of their fortress was a grand gesture, inaugurating a new age of imperial history and ending that of the Praetorians.

Legacy of the Guard

Although its name has become synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination, it could be argued that for the first two centuries of its existence the Praetorian Guard was, on the whole, a positive force in the Roman state. During this time it mostly removed (or allowed the removal of) cruel, weak, and unpopular emperors while generally supporting just, strong, and popular ones. By protecting these monarchs, thus extending their reigns, and also by keeping the disorders of the mobs of Rome and the intrigues of the Senate in line, the Guard helped give the empire a much needed stability that contributed to the period known as the Pax Romana
Pax Romana

Pax Romana was the long period of relative peace and minimal expansion by military force experienced by the Roman Empire in the first century and second century Anno Domini....
.

Only after the reign of Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius

Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important stoicism philosophy....
, when this period is generally considered to have ended, did the guard began to deteriorate into the ruthless, mercenary and meddling force for which it has become infamous. However, during the Severan dynasty

Severan dynasty

The Severan dynasty was a Ancient Rome imperial dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 193 and 235. The dynasty was founded by the African general Septimius Severus, who rose to power during the civil war of 193, known as the Year of the Five Emperors....
and afterwards during the Crisis of the Third Century

Crisis of the Third Century

Crisis of the Third Century was the crumbling and near collapse of the Roman Empire between 235 and 284 caused by invasion, civil war, Plague of Cyprian, and economic collapse....
, the legions, the Senate, and the emperorship along with the rest of Roman government were falling into decadence and decline as well.

Relationships between emperors and their Guard

Emperor	Year	Relationship with the Guard
Augustus	27 BC - AD 14	Created the Praetorian Guard, commanded their complete loyalty
Tiberius Tiberius Tiberius Julius Caesar Augustus, born Tiberius Claudius Nero , was the second Roman Emperor, from the death of Augustus in AD 14 until his own death in 37....	14 - 37	Allowed Sejanus to gain power as the Guard prefect Praetorian prefect Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314.... particularly through allowing him sole (as opposed to joint) control and by allowing him to concentrate the guard in a single camp. Tiberius then had him executed and replaced him with Macro
Gaius Caligula	37 - 41	Accession smoothed by popularity with Macro, the Praetorian Prefect Praetorian prefect Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314.... he later executed. Murdered by the Guard
Claudius Claudius Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus or Claudius I was the fourth Roman Emperor, a member of the Julio-Claudian dynasty, ruling from January 24, AD 41 to his death in AD 54....	41 - 54	Proclaimed emperor by the Guard and defended by them when in difficulty e.g. Messalina and Gaius Silius' attempted coup. Began the process of formalised accession donatives on a large scale and his coinage reflects the fact with coin captioned imper.recep i.e. "position of emperor received from" with a picture of the Praetorian camp on.
Nero Nero Nero Claudius Caesar Augustus Germanicus , born Lucius Domitius Ahenobarbus, also called Nero Claudius Caesar Drusus Germanicus, was the fifth and final Roman emperor of the Julio-Claudian dynasty....	54 - 68	Deserted by the Guard
Galba Galba Servius Sulpicius Galba , also called Servius Sulpicius Galba Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperor from June 8, 68 until his death. He was the first emperor of the Year of the Four Emperors....	68 - 69	Murdered by the Guard whose accession donative, promised on his behalf by Tigellinus and Otho, he refused to pay.
Otho Otho For other uses, see Otho .Marcus Salvius Otho , also called Marcus Salvius Otho Caesar Augustus, was Roman Emperors from 15 January to 16 April 69, the second emperor of the Year of the four emperors....	69	Elevated by the Guard who fought ferociously for him at Cremona before he committed suicide
Vitellius Vitellius Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year....	69	Deposed by the Guard then executed
Vespasian Vespasian Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian , was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 69 A.D. until his death in 79 A.D. Vespasian was the founder of the short lived Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 A.D....	69 - 79	Reduced the size of the Guard after victory in 69
Titus Titus Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Titus , was a Roman Emperor who briefly reigned from 79 until his death in 81. Titus was the second emperor of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96, encompassing the reigns of Titus's father Vespasian , Titus himself and his younger brother Domitian ....	79 - 81	Served as Praetorian prefect Praetorian prefect Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314.... , then as emperor
Domitian Domitian Titus Flavius Domitianus , commonly known as Domitian, was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 14 September 81 until his death. Domitian was the last emperor of the Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 and 96, encompassing the reigns of Domitian's father Vespasian , his elder brother Titus , and that of Domitian himself...	81 - 96	His election was supported by the Guard who remained loyal to him, especially as he increased the army's pay. Killed by his influential palace freedmen.
Nerva Nerva Marcus Cocceius Nerva was a Roman Emperor who reigned from AD 96 until his death in 98. Nerva acceded to this position at the advanced age of 65, after a lifetime of imperial service under Nero and the rulers of the Flavian dynasty--Vespasian, Titus and Domitian....	96 - 98	Humiliated by his Guard and forced(?) to adopt Marcus Ulpius Traianus, a military strong man, as colleague and successor
Trajan Trajan Marcus Ulpius Nerva Traianus, commonly known as Trajan , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 98 until his death in 117. Born Marcus Ulpius Traianus into a nonpatrician family in the Hispania Baetica province , Trajan rose to prominence during the reign of emperor Domitian, serving as a general in the Roman army along the Limes G...	98 - 117	Executed the Guard officers who led the rebellion against Nerva.
Hadrian Hadrian Publius Aelius Hadrianus , as emperor Imperator Caesar Divi Traiani filius Traianus Hadrianus Augustus, and Divus Hadrianus after his apotheosis, known as Hadrian in English language, was Roman Emperor of Roman Empire from AD 117 to 138, as well as a Stoicism and Epicureanism philosopher....	117 - 138	Founded the Frumentarii Frumentarii We have two main sources of information about the frumentarii, inscriptions on gravestones etc. and anecdotes where the actions of individual frumentarii are mentioned by historians....
Antoninus Pius Antoninus Pius Titus Aurelius Fulvus Boionius Arrius Antoninus , generally known in English as Antoninus Pius was Roman Emperors from 138 to 161. He was the fourth of the Five Good Emperors and a member of the Aurelii....	138 - 161
Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Marcus Aurelius Antoninus Augustus was Roman Emperor from 161 to his death in 180. He was the last of the "Five Good Emperors", and is also considered one of the most important stoicism philosophy....	161 - 180	Made use of the Guard in his war against the Germanian Tribes Germania Germania was the Latin language exonym for a geographical area of land on the east bank of the River Rhine , which included regions of Sarmatia as well as an area under Ancient Rome control on the west bank of the Rhine.... .
Lucius Verus Lucius Verus Lucius Aurelius Verus , born as Lucius Ceionius Commodus, known simply as Lucius Verus, was Roman Emperors with Marcus Aurelius , from 161 until his death....	161 - 169
Commodus Commodus Lucius Aurelius Commodus Antoninus , was a Roman Emperor who ruled from 180 to 192 . The name given here was his official name at his accession to sole rule; see 'Commodus#Changes of name' for earlier and later forms....	180 - 192	Bribed the guard and had their loyalty
Pertinax Pertinax Publius Helvius Pertinax, commonly known as Pertinax , was a Roman emperor who briefly reigned from December 31 192 until his death on March 28 193....	193	Assassinated by the Guard
Didius Julianus Didius Julianus Marcus Didius Severus Julianus was briefly Roman Emperor from 28 March 193 to 1 June 193. He ascended the throne after buying it from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated his predecessor Pertinax....	193	Purchased the Empire from the Guard but was later deserted by them
Septimius Severus Septimius Severus Lucius Septimius Severus was a Roman Empire general, and Roman Emperor from April 14 193 to 211. He was born in what is now the Libyan part of Rome's historic Africa Province, making him the first emperor to be born in the Roman province of Africa Province....	193 - 211	Disbanded the Guard and created a new one from the Danubian Legions
Caracalla Caracalla Caracalla , born Lucius Septimius Bassianus and later called Marcus Aurelius Antoninus and Marcus Aurelius Severus Antoninus, was the eldest son of Septimius Severus and Roman Emperor from 211 – 217....	211 - 217	Murdered in a plot by his Prefect, Macrinus Macrinus Marcus Opellius Macrinus was Roman Empire Roman Emperors for fourteen months in 217 and 218. Macrinus was the first emperor to become so without membership in the senatorial class and the first emperor of Mauretania descent....
Macrinus Macrinus Marcus Opellius Macrinus was Roman Empire Roman Emperors for fourteen months in 217 and 218. Macrinus was the first emperor to become so without membership in the senatorial class and the first emperor of Mauretania descent....	217 - 218
Elagabalus Elagabalus Elagabalus , also known as Heliogabalus or Marcus Aurelius Antoninus, was a Roman Emperor of the Severan dynasty who reigned from 218 to 222....	218 - 222	Murdered in the Castra Praetoria Castra Praetoria Castra Praetoria were the ancient barracks of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome.According to the Roman historian Suetonius, the barracks were built in 23 by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperor Tiberius, in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards.... by the Guard
Alexander Severus Alexander Severus Marcus Aurelius Severus Alexander, commonly called Alexander Severus, was the last Roman Emperors of the Severan dynasty, having succeeded, as heir apparent, his despised cousin, the eighteen year old Elagabalus who had been murdered along with his mother by his own guards—and as a mark of contempt, had their remains cast into...	222 - 235	Elevated by the Guard
Maximinus Thrax Maximinus Thrax Gaius Iulius Verus Maximinus , also known as Maximinus Thrax and Maximinus I, was a Roman Emperor .Maximinus is described by several ancient sources as the first barbarian who wore the imperial purple and the first emperor never to set foot in Rome....	235 - 238
Gordian I Gordian I Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus , known in English language as Gordian I, was Roman Emperor during the year 238....	238
Gordian II Gordian II Marcus Antonius Gordianus Sempronianus Romanus Africanus , known in English language as Gordian II, was Roman Emperor during the year 238....	238
Balbinus Balbinus Decimus Caelius Calvinus Balbinus born about 165, was jointly Roman Emperor with Pupienus between April and July of 238, the Year of the Six Emperors....	238	Murdered by the Guard
Pupienus Pupienus Marcus Clodius Pupienus Maximus, born about 178, was jointly Roman Emperor with Balbinus between April and July of 238, the Year of the Six Emperors....	238	Murdered by the Guard
Gordian III Gordian III Marcus Antonius Gordianus Pius , known in English language as Gordian III, was Roman Emperor from 238 to 244. Gordian was the son of Antonia Gordiana and his father was an unnamed Roman Senator who died before 238....	238 - 244	Proclaimed emperor by the Guard but killed by his Prefect, Philip the Arab Philip the Arab Marcus Julius Philippus or Philippus I Arabs , known in English language as Philip the Arab or formerly in English as Philip the Arabian, was a Roman Emperor from 244 to 249....
Philip the Arab Philip the Arab Marcus Julius Philippus or Philippus I Arabs , known in English language as Philip the Arab or formerly in English as Philip the Arabian, was a Roman Emperor from 244 to 249....	244 - 249
Decius Decius Gaius Messius Quintus Decius was the Roman Emperors from 249 - 251. In the last year of his reign, he co-ruled with his son Herennius Etruscus until both of them were killed in the Battle of Abrittus....	249 - 251
Herennius Etruscus Herennius Etruscus Quintus Herennius Etruscus Messius Decius , was Roman Empire in 251, in a joint rule with his father Trajan Decius. Emperor Hostilian was his younger brother....	251
Hostilian Hostilian Gaius Valens Hostilianus Messius Quintus , was Roman Empire in 251. Hostilian was born in Sirmium in Illyricum sometime after 230, as the son of the future emperor Decius by his wife Herennia Etruscilla....	251
Trebonianus Gallus Trebonianus Gallus Gaius Vibius Trebonianus Gallus , was Roman Emperor from 251 to 253, in a joint rule with his son Volusianus.Gallus was born in Italy, in a family with respected ancestry of Etruscan Roman senate background....	251-253
Aemilianus Aemilianus Marcus Aemilius Aemilianus , commonly known in English as Aemilian, was Roman Emperor for about three months in 253.Commander of the Moesian troops, he obtained an important victory against the invading Goths and was, for this reason, acclaimed emperor by his army....	253
Publius Licinius Valerianus	253-260
Gallienus Gallienus Publius Licinius Egnatius Gallienus ruled the Roman Empire as co-emperor with his father Valerian from 253 to 260, and then as the sole Roman Emperor from 260 to 268....	260-268
Claudius II Claudius II Marcus Aurelius Claudius , often referred to as Claudius Gothicus or Claudius II, was a Roman Emperor. He ruled the Roman Empire for less than two years , but during that brief time he managed to obtain some successes....	268-270
Quintillus Quintillus Marcus Aurelius Claudius Quintillus was born in Sirmium in Illyricum. He was brother of Roman Emperor Claudius II, and became Emperor himself in 270....	270
Aurelian Aurelian Lucius Domitius Aurelianus , known in English as Aurelian, Roman Emperor , was the second of several highly successful "soldier-emperors" who helped the Roman Empire regain its power during the latter part of the third century and the beginning of the fourth....	270-275	Murdered by the Guard
Marcus Claudius Tacitus Marcus Claudius Tacitus Marcus Claudius Tacitus was a Roman Emperors from September 25, 275, to June 276....	275-276
Florianus Florianus Marcus Annius Florianus , commonly known as Florian in English, was a Roman Emperor who ruled in 276.Florian was reportedly a maternal half-brother to Marcus Claudius Tacitus....	276
Probus Probus Marcus Aurelius Probus was a Roman Emperor .A native of Sirmium , in Pannonia, at an early age he entered the army, where he distinguished himself under the Emperors Valerian , Aurelian and Marcus Claudius Tacitus....	276 - 282	Murdered by Praetorian troops after a revolt
Carus Carus Marcus Aurelius Carus was a Roman Emperor . During his short reign, Carus tried to follow the path of restoration of the empire strength marked by Aurelian and Probus....	282-283
Carinus Carinus Marcus Aurelius Carinus was Roman Emperor and elder son of the Emperor Carus, on whose accession he was appointed governor of the western portion of the empire....	283-285
Numerian Numerian Marcus Aurelius Numerius Numerianus , known in English as Numerian, was a Roman Emperor , together with his brother Carinus. They were sons of Carus, a Gaul raised to the office of praetorian prefect under Emperor Probus in 282....	283-284
Diocletian Diocletian Gaius Aurelius Valerius Diocletianus , born Diocles and commonly known as Diocletian , was Roman Emperor from November 20, 284 to May 1, 305....	284 - 305	Effectively broke the power of the Praetorians
Maximian Maximian Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus Herculius , commonly referred to as Maximian, was Caesar from July 285 and Augustus from April 1, 286 to May 1, 305....	286 - 305, 307 - 308
Galerius Galerius Galerius Maximianus , formally Gaius Galerius Valerius Maximianus was Roman Emperor from 305 to 311....	305-311
Constantius Chlorus Constantius Chlorus Flavius Valerius Constantius , also Constantius I, was an Roman emperor of the Western Roman Empire . He was commonly called Chlorus an epithet given to him by Byzantine Empire historians....	305-306
Flavius Valerius Severus Flavius Valerius Severus Flavius Valerius Severus was a Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 307.Severus was of humble birth, born in the Illyrian provinces around the middle of the third century AD....	306-307
Maxentius Maxentius Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maxentius was Western Roman Emperor from 306 to 312. He was the son of former emperor Maximian, and the son-in-law of Galerius, also an emperor....	306-312	Last emperor to command the guard
Constantine I Constantine I Flavius Valerius Aurelius Constantinus , commonly known in English_language as Constantine I, Constantine the Great, or Saint Constantine , was Roman Emperor from 306, and the undisputed holder of that office from 324 until his death in 337....	306-337	Disbanded the Guard and destroyed the Castra Praetoria Castra Praetoria Castra Praetoria were the ancient barracks of the Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome.According to the Roman historian Suetonius, the barracks were built in 23 by Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperor Tiberius, in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards....

Organization and conditions of service

Although the Praetorians have similarities, they are unlike any of the regular Legions

Roman legion

The Roman Legion is a term that can apply both as a translation of legio to the entire Roman army and also, more narrowly , to the heavy infantry that was the basic military unit of the Roman army in the period of the late Roman Republic and the Roman Empire....
of the Roman Empire

Roman Empire

The Roman Empire was the Roman Republic phase of the Ancient Rome, characterised by an autocracy form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
. Their nine cohorts (one less than a legion) were larger, the pay and benefits were better, and its military abilities were reliable. They also received gifts of money called Donativum

Donativum

Donativum was the name given to the gifts of money dispersed to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperors....
from the emperors. As conceived by Augustus, the Praetorian cohorts totaled around 9,000 men, recruited from the legions of the regular army or drawn from the most deserving youths in Etruria

Etruria

Etruria — usually referred to in Greek language and Latin language source texts as Tyrrhenia — was a region of Central Italy, an area that covered part of what now are Tuscany, Latium, Emilia-Romagna and Umbria....
, Umbria

Umbria

Umbria is a Regions of Italy of central Italy. Its capital is Perugia. It has an area of 8,456 km? and about 900,000 inhabitants....
, and Latium

Latium

Lazio, called Latium in English language, is a Regions of Italy of central Italy, bordered by Tuscany, Umbria, and Marche to the north, Abruzzo to the east, Campania to the south, and the Tyrrhenian Sea to the west....
(three provinces in central Italy). Over time the pool of recruits expanded to Macedonia

Macedonia (Roman province)

The Roman province of Macedonia was officially established in 146 BC, after the Roman general Quintus Caecilius Metellus Macedonicus defeated Andriscus of Macedon in 148 BC, and after the four client republics established by Rome in the region were dissolved....
, Hispania Baetica

Hispania Baetica

Hispania Baetica was one of three Imperial Roman provincesin Hispania, . Hispania Baetica was bordered to the west by Lusitania , and to the northeast by Hispania Tarraconensis....
, Hispania Tarraconensis

Hispania Tarraconensis

Hispania Tarraconensis was one of three Roman provinces in Hispania. It encompassed much of the Mediterranean coast of Spain along with the central plateau and the north coast, and part of northern Portugal....
, Lusitania

Lusitania

Lusitania was an ancient Ancient Rome Roman province including approximately all of modern Portugal south of the Douro river, and part of modern Spain ....
and Illyricum

Illyricum

Illyricum can refer to:* Illyricum * Diocese of Illyricum* Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum...
. Vitellius

Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year....
formed a new Guard out of the Germanic legions, while Septimus Severus did the same with the Pannonia

Pannonia

Pannonia is an ancient province of the Roman Empire bounded north and east by the Danube, coterminous westward with Noricum and upper Italy, and southward with Dalmatia and upper Moesia....
n legions. He also chose replacements for the units' ranks from throughout the Roman Empire.

Around the time of Augustus (c. 5) each cohort of the Praetorians numbered 1,000 men, increasing to a high-water mark of 1,500 men. As with the normal legions, the body of troops actually ready for service was much smaller. Tacitus reports that the number of cohorts was increased to twelve from nine in 47. In 69 it was briefly increased to sixteen cohorts by Vitellius

Vitellius

Aulus Vitellius Germanicus, born Aulus Vitellius and commonly known as Vitellius , was a Roman Emperors who reigned from 16 April 69 to 22 December of the same year....
, but Vespasian

Vespasian

Titus Flavius Vespasianus, commonly known as Vespasian , was a Roman Emperor who reigned from 69 A.D. until his death in 79 A.D. Vespasian was the founder of the short lived Flavian dynasty, which ruled the Roman Empire between 69 A.D....
quickly reduced it again to nine. Finally in 101 their number was increased once more to ten, resulting in a force of 5,000 troops, whose status was at least elite.

The training of guardsmen was more intense than in the legions because of the amount of free time available, when a cohort was not posted or traveling with the emperor. The Guard followed the same lines as those elsewhere. Equipment and armour were also the same with one notable exception — specially decorated breastplates, excellent for parade

Parade

A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, float or sometimes large balloons....
s and state functions. Insignia of the "Moon and Stars" and the "Scorpion" were particularly associated with the Praetorians. Thus, each guardsman possessed two suits of armor, one for Roman duty and one for the field.

The Praetorians received substantially higher pay than other Roman soldiers in any of the legions, on a system known as sesquiplex stipendum, or by pay-and-a-half. So if the legionnaires received 225 denarii

Denarius

The ancient Roman currency system included the 'denarius' after 211 BC, a small silver coin, and it was the most common coin produced for circulation but was slowly Debasement until its replacement by the antoninianus....
, the guards received 375 per annum. Domitian

Domitian

Septimius Severus

Lucius Septimius Severus was a Roman Empire general, and Roman Emperor from April 14 193 to 211. He was born in what is now the Libyan part of Rome's historic Africa Province, making him the first emperor to be born in the Roman province of Africa Province....
increased the stipendum (payment) to 1,500 denarii per year, distributed in January, May and September.

On special occasions they received special donativum

Donativum

Donativum was the name given to the gifts of money dispersed to the soldiers of the Roman legions or to the Praetorian Guard by the Roman Emperors....
from the emperor.

Upon retiring, a soldier of the Praetorians was granted 20,000 sesterces

Sestertius

The sestertius, or sesterce, was an Ancient Rome coin. During the Roman Republic it was a small, silver coin issued only on rare occasions....
(5,000 denarii) which constitute more than 13 annual salaries. Furthermore a gift of land, and a diploma reading "to the warrior

Warrior

According to the Random House Dictionary, the term warrior has two meanings. The first Literal and figurative language use refers to "a person engaged or experienced in warfare." The second Literal and figurative language use refers to "a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as in politics or athletics...
who bravely and faithfully completed his service." Many chose to enter the Evocati, while others reenlisted in the hopes of gaining further promotion and other possible high positions in the Roman state.

Imperial Horseguard

From its beginnings, the guard usually included a small cavalry detachment, equites singulares augusti, to escort the emperors to important state functions and on military campaigns. It was comprised chiefly of selected, highly trusted provincials, who wore their native dress and carried their own weapons. Trajan expanded this force, opening it up to citizens and made it a permanent part of the Praetorian establishment. Its size was that of an ala quingenaria or about 512 horsemen in 16 turmae (troops). It was commanded by a Tribune, and so was, in effect a 10th Praetorian cohort. Later, Severus would double its size to an ala milliaria, giving it the same strength as the other nine cohorts.

Rank and file

Ranks of the Praetorian Guard, in ascending order
Milites Milites Milites were the main footsoldiers of the praetorian guard. As part of the praetorian guard they were selected from the best roman legionary troops and were, although only slightly above them, elite....	Regular soldiers
Immunes Immunes Ancient Rome's military was highly advanced for its time, divided into multiple units to maximize efficiency and power. One such unit was the immune class....	After five years these soldiers were allowed to serve in the Equites singulares (cavalry branch) or as Speculatores (special agents)
Principales	Legionary administrators
Evocati Evocatus *Evocatus* was the Latin term for a soldier in the Roman army who had served out his time and obtained a Military discharge but had voluntarily enlisted again at the invitation of the Roman consul or other commander....	After 16 years of service, retirement was possible but most soldiers chose to stay in this honorary unit.
Centurion Centurion Centurion may refer to:... es	Soldiers transferred to the Praetorian Guard after service in the legions, the Vigiles Vigiles The *Vigiles* or more properly the Vigiles Urbani or Cohortes Vigilum were the firefighters and police of Ancient Rome.... or the Urban Cohort
Tribuni	These officers also from the legions and usually of the Equestrian class, commanded a cohort. Centurions could rarely be promoted to the Tribuneship
Procuratores	A rank of the Equestrians
Praefectus Praetorian prefect Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314....	Available to the Vigiles and urban cohorts; the highest rank in the Praetorian Guard, head of the Praetorian Guard

Prefect(s) in command of the Praetorian Guard

See the article Praetorian prefect
Praetorian prefect

Praetorian prefect was the constant title of a high office in the Roman Empire state that changed fundamentally in nature.The praetorian prefect was commander of the Praetorian Guard until Constantine I abolished the guard in 314....
, which also lists the incumbents of the post of Praefectus praetorio and covers the essentially civilian second life of the office, since ca 300, as administrator of a quarter of the empire), and its Germanic continuation

Reception history

In Modern English, the phrase "praetorian guard(s)" designates an exclusive, unconditionally loyal group personally attached to powerful people, especially dictators such as Napoleon I's Imperial Guard

Imperial Guard

The Imperial Guard was originally a small group of elite soldiers of the La Grande Armee under the direct command of Napoleon I, but grew considerably over time....
, Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler

Adolf Hitler was an Austrian-born Germany politician and the leader of the National Socialist German Workers Party , popularly known as the Nazi Party....
's SS troops or Romania's former communist leader Ceausescu

Nicolae Ceausescu

Nicolae Ceausescu was the Secretary General of the Romanian Workers' Party, later the Romanian Communist Party from 1965 until 1989, President of the Council of State from 1967 and President of Romania from 1974 until 1989....
's Securitate

Securitate

The Securitate , was the secret service of Communist Romania. Previously the Romanian secret police was called Siguranta statului . Founded on August 30, 1948, with help from the Soviet Union NKVD, the Securitate was abolished in December 1989, shortly after President of Romania Nicolae Ceausescu was ousted....
. However, the term is also used in unarmed, even private contexts: for example, a corporate officer or politician may have a small group of associates or followers whom a journalist

Journalist

A journalist is a person who practices journalism, the gathering and dissemination of information about current events, trends, issues, and people while striving for viewpoints that aren't biased....
may describe as a "praetorian guard." Such use is often pejorative

Pejorative

Words and phrases are pejorative if they imply disapproval or contempt. When used as an adjective, pejorative is synonymous with derogatory, derisive, dyslogistic, and contemptuous....
, meant to indicate that the followers are fanatics or extremists and/or that the leader is tyrannical or paranoid. Praetorianism is used to mean the advocacy or practice of military dictatorship

Military dictatorship

A military dictatorship is a form of government wherein the political power resides with the military. It is similar but not identical to a stratocracy, a state ruled directly by the military....
. John Stockwell

John Stockwell

John R. Stockwell is a former Central Intelligence Agency officer who became a critic of United States federal government of the United States policies after serving in the Agency for thirteen years serving seven tour of duty....
, a former member of the CIA, used the title The Praetorian Guard for his book about the negative aspects of U.S. foreign policy.

The Praetorian Guard features in the 2000 film Gladiator
Gladiator (2000 film)

Gladiator is a 2000 in film epic film directed by Ridley Scott, starring Russell Crowe, Joaquin Phoenix, Connie Nielsen, Oliver Reed, Djimon Hounsou, Derek Jacobi, and Richard Harris....
and the TV-film Age of Treason (Columbia 1993). The Guard's soldiers appear as infantry units in Civilization IV
Civilization IV

Sid Meier's Civilization IV is a turn-based strategy Personal computer game released in 2005 and developed by game designer Soren Johnson under the direction of Sid Meier and Meier's video game developer Firaxis Games....
, Rome: Total War
Rome: Total War

Rome: Total War is a critically acclaimed strategy game composed of both turn-based strategy and real-time tactics, in which the player fights historical and fictitious battles set during late Roman Republic and early Roman Empire ....
and Travian
Travian

Travian is an award-winning German massively multiplayer online game browser-based game massively multiplayer online real-time strategy developed by Travian Games Gesellschaft mit beschr?nkter Haftung.....
.

The Apostle Paul refers to the Praetorian Guard in the epistle (original Greek: epistole which simply means letter) to Philippians (Philippians 1:13).

Praetorian Guard

History

Original form of the Guard

Political role

Guard's twilight years

Legacy of the Guard

Relationships between emperors and their Guard

Organization and conditions of service

Imperial Horseguard

Rank and file

Reception history

External links