Praetorian Guard

History

  • The Praetorian Guard, Cohortes Praetoriae, was created by Augustus in 27 BCE as an elite dedicated personal bodyguard with sworn allegiance to protect the Roman Emperor, and also to act as the Police force in Rome and in the other Italian cities.
  • Before this, under the Roman Republic, Generals had only had a small group of elite soldiers to protect them during a campaign. Julius Caesar was the first General to use a Legion as his bodyguard, the Legio X Equestris.
  • Under the Roman Republic no General had been permitted to bring his Army to Rome.
  • Under the Roman Empire the Emperor maintained three Cohorts in Rome, with six Cohorts in other Italian Cities, including the Alpine Pass at Alpes Cottiae.
  • Their number soon reached 9,000 men who were grouped in 9 Cohorts, and eventually a tenth Cohort was added. The Imperial Horse Guard made up another Cohort of 1,000 men. This effectively gave Italy two Legions to defend itself from any invading Army and acted as a deterrence to commanders of Legions based on the Frontiers.
  • The Praetorian Guard would accompany the Roman Emperor on his travels in the Provinces and also fight with him on his military campaigns, Trajan took them with him to the Danube.
  • They were finally disbanded by Constantine I in 312 CE.

The Praetorian Cohorts

  • Originally, under Augustus, there were 500 men in each Cohort. Under Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) the cohorts were doubled to 1,000 men.
  • In 47 CE they were increased to 12 Cohorts.
  • In 69 CE they were increased to 16 Cohorts, then reduced to 9 Cohorts.
  • In 101 CE they were increased to 10 Cohorts permanently.
    • Cohors Praetoria I
    • Cohors Praetoria II
    • Cohors Praetoria III
    • Cohors Praetoria IV
    • Cohors Praetoria V
    • Cohors Praetoria VI
    • Cohors Praetoria VII
    • Cohors Praetoria VIII
    • Cohors Praetoria IX
    • The Imperial Cavalry (1,000 men, which in effect created a tenth Cohort)

Cohors Togata

  • The ‘Cohors Togata’, meaning the ‘Toga wearing Cohort’, was a military unit which dressed in the civilian Roman Toga.
  • This Praetorian Unit was allowed within the Pomerium, the sacred boundary of Rome, where traditionally, no weapons were allowed to be worn or carried.
  • They had to wear civilian clothes, the Roman Toga, but were allowed to carry their sword, the Gladius.

Location of the Nine Praetorian Cohorts

  • ROME: 3 Cohorts
    • Located in the Castra Praetoria.
    • Only three Cohorts were kept on duty at any given time in the Capital, where, dressed in the Toga, they patrolled inconspicuously in the major buildings and the Imperial Palace.
    • Cohors Togata: The Praetorian Unit allowed within the Pomerium, the sacred boundary of Rome.
  • ITALY: 6 Cohorts
    • The other 6 Praetorian Cohorts were stationed in the towns surrounding Rome: their role was to act as a Police force.
    • The Alpine Passes and their communication routes into and out of Italia were controlled by a Praetorian Cohort.
    • Alpes Cottiae: The Cohors Praetoria XII was garrisoned in Segusio (Susa) until it was replaced by the Cohors Praetoria IX.

Praetorian Barracks

Command Structure of the Praetorian Guard

Praetorian Prefect

    • The Praetorian Guard was commanded by a Praefectus Praetorio meaning ‘Praetorian Prefect’, who was an Equestrian, and not from the Senatorial Class.
    • He became the second most powerful man in the Roman Empire after the Emperor.
    • There were between 1 to 3 Prefects of the Praetorian Guard appointed at the same time, because the Emperors did not trust one man too wield so much power.

Praetorian Tribune

    • He commanded each Cohort along with two subordinates. All three came from the Equestrian class.

Praetorian Legionary

Praetorian Cohorts

    • Nine Cohorts were formed initially: originally of 500 men, then increased to 1,000 men each. This created a force in Italy of 9,000 men, approximately 2 Legions.

Recruitment of the Praetorian Guard

  • To obtain admission, the new recruit needed to come from a good family, have a high moral character and obtain letters of recommendation from high officials.
  • According to Tacitus, recruitment initially was restricted to Etruria, Umbria and Latium.
  • According to Cassius Dio, recruitment was from Italy, Spain, Macedonia and Noricum until c.200 CE.
  • After Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) recruitment was from the best soldiers in the Legions.
  • For most soldiers, the career path culminated in becoming a Centurion in the Praetorian Guard, after having first been promoted to be centurion in a Legion.
  • To become a Prefect, he needed to become first a senior centurion, then Primus Pilus in a Legion. Only then he could return to become Tribune of the Vigiles, followed by Tribune of the Urban Cohort and finally, Tribune of Praetorian Cohort.

Praetorian Guard Uniform and Weapons

  • The Praetorian Legionary had the same uniform and weapons as the Roman Legionary, but with different Insignia.
  • However, he had two breastplates: One for battle, same as the Legionary, and one for peacetime Parade duties:
  • The Praetorian Parade Breastplate: this was a specially decorated Breastplate for State Functions and Parades: It apparently carried the insignia of the Moon and the Stars, and of the Scorpion, but none has ever been found.
  • When on duty within the boundaries of the city of Rome, the Pomerium, the Praetorian Guard wore a white toga, with a sword underneath.

Praetorian Guard Insignia

  • The Symbol of the Praetorian Guard was the Scorpion, adopted under Tiberius as Scorpio was his star sign. He was known as the ‘Second Founder’ of the Praetorian Guard.
  • The Scorpion symbol was carried on the Praetorian Standard, Shields and Helmets.
  • Under Tiberius, they carried a blue oval Shield displaying the Moon, Stars and a Scorpion.
  • The Praetorian Signifer, Standard Bearer, wore a Lion skin over his helmet, instead of the Bearskin of the Legionary Signifer.
  • The Praetorian Standards were also different from Legionary Standards, in that they had images of the Emperor, as well as other Insignia.

Praetorian Guard Pay and Bonuses

Praetorian Guard Term of service

  • Only 16 years:
    • Normally in the Legions, service was 20-25 yrs, but the Praetorians weren’t discharged. They then went on to perform other duties becoming either Centurions within the Praetorian Guard or the other Legions, or being given special military duties to perform.

Praetorian Guard Involvement in Wars

  • Whenever the Emperor went off to campaign in Foreign or civil wars, a detachment of the Praetorian Guard always travelled with him, firstly for his protection, and secondly to fight as a unit within the Roman Army.

Other Imperial Units commanded by the Praetorian Guard

Cohortes Urbanae: Rome’s Police Force

  • The Cohortes Urbanae were created by Augustus. Their role was to act as a Police Force for Rome.
  • The City Cohorts were stationed in the same camp as the Praetorians, but were under the Command of a City Prefect.
  • The Praetorians could also could become Centurions with the Cohortes Urbanae and the Vigiles Urbani.
  • The Commander of the City Cohorts was a City Prefect from the Senatorial class. But their Centurions came from the Praetorian Guard. These men could be promoted into the Praetorian Guard if they performed well: this acted as a curb on the City Prefect’s power.

Vigiles Urbani: Rome’s Fire Brigade

The Emperor’s Personal Bodyguard

  • Imperial Horse Guard (30 BCE-68 CE)
    • Also known as the Imperial German Bodyguard or Germani Corpore Custodes or ‘cohors Germanorum’ or ‘equites singulares Augusti’.
    • This was the Imperial Cavalry, but they were not Roman Citizens from Italy, as they were recruited from the Batavi, Roman Auxiliaries from Germany.
    • This elite cavalry regiment was not commanded by the Praetorian Commander, but by the Emperor himself, and acted as his personal bodyguard.
    • They consisted of approximately, 30 Cavalry Units (Turmae) of 30 men each, totalling 1,000 men, effectively forming a tenth Cohort.
  • Speculatores Augusti: (68-98 CE)
    • After Nero‘s demise, Galba disbanded the Germani Corpore Custodes (the old Imperial Horse Guard), and replaced them with the Speculatores Augusti, using his own personal bodyguard.
    • The unit consisted of around 300 men in Cohorts of 30 men.
    • Its home base was on the Caelian Hill in Rome.
    • They were used by the Emperor as messengers to carry secret intelligence signals and as undercover agents.
  • Equites Singulares Augusti: (98-312 CE)
    • The Speculatores Augusti were disbanded by Trajan (98-117 CE) after the assassination of Domitian. The original speculators were folded back into the Praetorian Cohorts.
    • Instead, Trajan formed a new cavalry group, based on the Singulares of the Provincial Governor, probably his own bodyguard unit from when he was Governor.
    • Unlike the Praetorian legionaries who had to be Roman Citizens, the Singulares were recruited from serving cavalrymen in the Auxilia, and probably granted Roman Citizenship on entry.
    • They were commanded by a Tribunus Militum, and consisted of 24 Turmae (squadrons) of 30 men each, totalling around 720 men.
    • Their emblem was the scorpion, displayed on their standards and on their shields.
    • Hadrian (117-138 CE) increased their numbers from 720 to 1,000.
    • Septimius Severus (193-211 CE) increased their number to 2,000.
    • The unit was disbanded in 312 CE by Constantine I, at the same time as he disbanded the Praetorian Guard.

The Rise and Fall of the Praetorian Guard

The Praetorians acquire Power: they run the Administration of the Empire

  • Tiberius became known as the ‘Second Founder’ of the Praetorian Guard.
  • In 23 CE, he built them a Barracks in Rome, known as the ‘Castra Praetoria’.
  • During his Rule, Sejanus, Prefect of the Praetorian Guard from 15-31 CE, the Guard was transformed from a Bodyguard function, into an Administrative Bureau that controlled the daily running of the State.
  • The Praetorian Guard maintained Public Order, the Civil Administration, the Imperial Succession and the elimination of Political Opponents.
  • The Praetorians were now making the decisions, while the Roman Senate simply endorsed those decisions.

The Praetorian Guard achieves Power: they decide the Succession

  • Under Tiberius, the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard become the second most powerful man in the Roman Empire.
  • In 41 CE Caligula became the first Emperor to be assassinated by his own Praetorian Guard.
  • Claudius was the first Emperor to be proclaimed Emperor by the Praetorian Guard and not by the Roman Senate, who were then coerced into accepting him. He had never been adopted as an heir by his predecessors.
  • They then became more powerful than the Emperor himself, demonstrated by their assassinations of numerous Emperors.
  • See the List of Emperors they assassinated, at the bottom of this page.

Their effect on the Roman Senate

  • The power of the Patrician class and therefore of the Roman Senate, was countered by the Praetorian Guard.
  • Senators who were opposed to the Emperor’s Policies were persecuted through the Treason Trials.
  • Although the Praetorian Prefect was always recruited from the more junior Equestrian class, as the Emperor’s second in Command, he held complete seniority over the Patrician career men in the Cursus Honorum.

Sejanus: The Praetorians eliminate Political Opponents

  • The Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, Sejanus, seems to have created the ‘Delatores’.
  • These are mentioned for the first time during Tiberius‘ Rule. They were professional Informers who reported on Opponents of the State and testified against them at their Treason Trials, particularly under Tiberius, but under other Emperors as well.

The Demise of the Praetorian Guard

  • In 198 CE Septimius Severus placed the Legio II Parthica in Rome, in the Castra Albana, to counter the power of the Praetorian Guard. Except for a gap of 20 years, the Legio II Parthica were based in Rome until 312 CE, when the Praetorians were finally disbanded.
  • In 284 CE Diocletian moved the centre of Administration out of Rome and divided it amongst the Provinces under the Tetrarchy. The Four Co-Emperors had a new Administrative Organisation called the ‘Sacer Comitatus’: this by-passed the need for the Praetorian Guard as an administrative unit. He also created two new units of Palace Guards: The Senior Emperor was now protected by the ‘Ioviani’ and the Junior Emperor was protected by the ‘Herculiani’.
  • The Praetorians had now lost their two main reasons for existence, which were to protect the Roman Emperor, and run the Administration of the Empire.

Last stand of the Praetorian Guard

Timeline of the Praetorian Guard

  • Augustus
    • 27 BCE He created 9 Cohorts of 500 men each, increased later to 1000 men.
  • Caligula
    • 47 CE He expanded the Guard to 12 Cohorts.
    • But, unfortunately for him, the Praetorian Guard assassinated him.
  • Vitellius
    • 69 CE He increased them to 16 Cohorts.
  • Vespasian
    • c.70 CE He reduced them to 9 Cohorts.
  • Domitian
    • 101 CE He increased them to 10 Cohorts but reduced the Cohorts to 500 men each.
  • Commodus
    • 193 CE was murdered by the Praetorian Guard, and the Office of Emperor was auctioned by the Praetorian Guard to the highest bidder, Didius Julianus, who lasted 66 days before being himself murdered by the Praetorian Guard.
  • Septimius Severus
    • 193 CE then reformed the Praetorian Guard by opening recruitment to all the Provinces in the Empire, in a move to weaken its power without disbanding it.
  • Soldier Emperors in the Crisis of the Third Century
    • 235-284 CE The Praetorian Guard now appointed itself kingmaker, and supported or assassinated one Emperor after another. Because of this, there were 33 Emperors in just fifty years.
  • Diocletian
    • 284 CE Diocletian finally weakened it’s grip over the Emperor by creating a separate Administration and bodyguard called the Sacer Comitatus. This removed the Praetorian’s main function of Administration and Guarding the Emperor’s Person, thus relegating them to ordinary military duties.
  • Constantine I

Roman Emperors known to have been assassinated by the Praetorian Guard

Between 27 BCE and 476 CE, there were 77 Western Roman Emperors, of which 25 died of natural causes, 29 were executed, 10 were assassinated by the Praetorian Guard, 6 committed suicide, 5 died in battle, 1 was drowned and 1 died in captivity.

  1. Tiberius d.37 CE
    • Assassination was rumoured, but not confirmed.
  2. Caligula d.41 CE Assassinated and replaced by Claudius as Emperor instead.
  3. Galba d.69 CE Assassinated and replaced by Otho as Emperor instead.
  4. Domitian d.96 CE
    • Although he was assassinated by his Palace advisers and Freedmen, the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard was aware and probably directly involved.
  5. Commodus d.192 CE Assassinated.
  6. Pertinax d.193 CE Assassinated and the Office of Emperor Auctioned by the Praetorian Guard to Didius Julianus.
  7. Caracalla d.217 CE Assassinated.
  8. Elagabalus d.222 CE Assassinated.
  9. Gallienus d.268 CE Assassinated in a conspiracy involving Aurelius Heraclianus, Prefect of the Praetorian Guard.
  10. Aurelian d.275 CE Assassinated.
  11. Probus d.282 CE Assassinated.
  12. Numerian d.284 CE Assassinated.

Roman Emperors or Candidates who were brought to Power by the Praetorian Guard

  • Claudius (41 CE) was elected Emperor because the Praetorians mistakenly thought he was an idiot.
  • Otho (69 CE) was brought to power after assassinating Galba. When Vitellius removed Galba he disbanded the Praetorians.
  • Vespasian (69 CE) was then brought to power by the Praetorian Cohorts Vitellius had just disbanded.
  • Didius Julianus (193 CE) bought the Office when it was put to Auction by the Praetorians, after they had assassinated Pertinax.

Prefects of the Praetorian Guard who became Roman Emperor

  1. Titus (before 79 CE)
  2. Macrinus (217-218 CE)
  3. Philip the Arab (244-249 CE)

Famous Prefects of the Praetorian Guard

  • Sejanus (13-31 CE
    • Sejanus served under Tiberius and was executed by him for Treason.
  • Macro (31-38 CE)
  • Sextus Afrianus Burrus (51-62 CE)
  • Faenius Rufus (62-65 CE)
    • He served under Nero but was executed for involvement in the Pisonian Conspiracy.
    • Ofonius Tigellinus (62-68 CE) was his co-Prefect who deserted Nero for Galba in 68 CE, but was executed by Otho six months later.
  • Titus (Before 78 CE)
    • Prefect under his father Vespasian. Titus succeeded his father as Roman Emperor between 79-81 CE. Titus used the Speculatores of the Praetorian Guard to carry out assassinations of his enemies.
  • Quintus Marcius Turbo (125-134 CE)
  • Marcus Petronius Mamertinus (139-143 CE)
  • Macrinus (212 CE)
    • He was the Praetorian Prefect until he himself became the Emperor.
  • Marcus Oclatinus Adventus (c.215-217 CE)
    • He first became Head of the Frumentarii, then Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, and was finally promoted to become a Senator by Macrinus in 217 CE.
  • Timesitheus (241-243 CE)
    • He was Gordian III‘s father in law and Military Commander in the war against Parthia. Gordian III was only 13 when he was made Emperor. However, Timesitheus never took advantage of his position to usurp the Throne, and was killed in the battle against the Parthians.
  • Philip the Arab
    • He was then promoted by Gordian III to Praefectus in his place. However, Gordian III died shortly thereafter, and Philip the Arab was proclaimed Emperor.
  • Silvanus (260 CE)
    • Silvanus was the guardian of Gallienus‘ young son, Solinus, until were both executed by Postumus.
  • Aurelius Heraclianus (267-8 CE)
    • He became Prefect between 267-8 CE, under Gallienus (253-268 CE).
    • Aurelius Heraclianus and Claudius II Gothicus conspired to have Gallienus assassinated during the siege of Mediolanum. He was then assassinated himself later in 268 CE.

 

Castra Praetorio

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23 CE
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