Roman Praetorians
Roman Praetorians
Does anybody know anything about Roman Praetorians? I am looking for information about their training, jobs, how they were compared with legions, did they fight at any war and if you know anything about them, I like to hear.
Thanks
Thanks
The Praetorian Guard
Of higher status than both the legions and the auxiliaries were the Praetorian Guard. Most of their soldiering was done at Rome as the Emperor's household troops, although they did accompany him on campaign. The size of the Guard fluctuated, by the second half of the first century it had nine cohorts with 500 men in each. There were also a number of urban cohorts whose role was to maintain order in Rome
Info from: http://www.morgue.demon.co.uk/Pages/Oth ... f/ARMY.HTM
Andy from the Shire
Of higher status than both the legions and the auxiliaries were the Praetorian Guard. Most of their soldiering was done at Rome as the Emperor's household troops, although they did accompany him on campaign. The size of the Guard fluctuated, by the second half of the first century it had nine cohorts with 500 men in each. There were also a number of urban cohorts whose role was to maintain order in Rome
Info from: http://www.morgue.demon.co.uk/Pages/Oth ... f/ARMY.HTM
Andy from the Shire
Also known as the 10th Legion made up of the best soldiers. In the Republican age it was dangerous to station an army in Italy ,but Augustus saw that the Emperor needed a Legion for protection so he had no choice but to put them around Rome. They were first scattered in villages around the city but that changed during Tiberius' reign . An ambitious and officer named Sejanus convinced Tiberius that the Preatorians should all be together in the same barracks.Now the Preatorians could communicate and conspire.Many later Roman Emperors were Preatorian generals only to be overhtrown/assasinated by other ambitious Preatorians.
They participated in many campaigns,one of them was the siege of Masada.During the later empire they saw alot of action ,due too the many civil wars.But they mostly looked after the city,becoming the "police force" called Vigilantes ,As you probably guessed they were mostly bullies shaking people down for money and bribes.
Ave! 8) Ernest
They participated in many campaigns,one of them was the siege of Masada.During the later empire they saw alot of action ,due too the many civil wars.But they mostly looked after the city,becoming the "police force" called Vigilantes ,As you probably guessed they were mostly bullies shaking people down for money and bribes.
Ave! 8) Ernest
-
- Banned
- Posts: 25
- Joined: 14 Jan 2003, 08:38
- Location: Westwood
yes
my understanding is that the guards were a basis for the formation of the ss. i read somewhere that hitler was fascinated by the praetorian guards, so much so that he wanted black uniforms, for his ss men.
- Attachments
-
- signifier and officer
- praetorian officer.jpg (23.34 KiB) Viewed 1528 times
-
- symbol signifier praetorian.jpg (12.41 KiB) Viewed 1528 times
Praetorians as model for the SS. Does this not go to far ?.
It can be interpreted against the SS, as a statement of their primitivity
Or was Hitler taking there a model for his succession, "election" of the Führer by a military force ?.
The only common point of SS and praetorians in my opinion was the strong links existing inside the both groups. Praetorians had build a common way of thinking, superiority of their unit, which permitted all extremes, including choice of the emperor. But Gallic legions did the same some time after.
In fact, I do'nt think any comparison is possible.
It can be interpreted against the SS, as a statement of their primitivity
Or was Hitler taking there a model for his succession, "election" of the Führer by a military force ?.
The only common point of SS and praetorians in my opinion was the strong links existing inside the both groups. Praetorians had build a common way of thinking, superiority of their unit, which permitted all extremes, including choice of the emperor. But Gallic legions did the same some time after.
In fact, I do'nt think any comparison is possible.
Just about all modern armies use Legionary formations. SS and Praetorians were created for the same purpose, to protect and serve the Emperor.SS were Hitlers bodyguard werent they? Only difference was that Hitler had many more divisions and they actually fought on the front lines,where as the Praetorian Guard only traveled with the Emperor. I think the policy was that you had to get promoted to the 10th Legion , so Praetorians were the best of the best .It can be interpreted against the SS, as a statement of their primitivity
No i dont think thats what he had in mind, the Praetorian phenomenom usually happened when spoiled rich brats with no military,political and or administrative experience took power. Had the Third Reich lasted a few generations i think the Fuhrers would not have left their kids in charge. A good example of that would be the Antonine dynasty, from Trajan to Marcus Aurelius there were no Praetorian coups.Or was Hitler taking there a model for his succession, "election" of the Führer by a military force ?.
As for the comparison between Praetorians and SS;
pretty much the same only the SS were bigger in numbers because of the size of the wermacht . Had Rome had more than40 legions than maybe the Praetorians would have been upgraded to several Legions.
AVE
-
- Member
- Posts: 2840
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 23:46
- Location: United Kingdom
As far as I can tell, the Praetorians were gradually formed by the need for the Princeps (now now, you all know that they're not called Emperor's in Rome ) to have an effective military force at Rome. The civil wars between Marius and Sulla can be seen as the start of this, as the two General's battled each other, yet neither had a regular force at Rome to maintain control.
Caesar maintained an effective force within Rome, as did Augustus, however as mentioned, it was Sejanus, who under Tiberius took control of the Praetorian, and turned it into the dominating force of Roman politics which it became.
Senators could not become Prefect of Rome (the head of the Praetorian) for obvious reasons, and the position was limited to Equities, as these knights could not hope to become Emperor, and this was meant to help discourage conspiracies. However, Equities were also businessmen as well, and thus had an urge to make money, and this can be seen through the auctioning off of the throne.
Being Prefect was by no means a safe job either, as Sejanus found out at the hands of Macro. And I imagine that in the year of the 4 Emperors, the Prefect changed positions with each arriving Emperor.
Now look, I'm writing Emperor instead of Princeps
Gwynn
Caesar maintained an effective force within Rome, as did Augustus, however as mentioned, it was Sejanus, who under Tiberius took control of the Praetorian, and turned it into the dominating force of Roman politics which it became.
Senators could not become Prefect of Rome (the head of the Praetorian) for obvious reasons, and the position was limited to Equities, as these knights could not hope to become Emperor, and this was meant to help discourage conspiracies. However, Equities were also businessmen as well, and thus had an urge to make money, and this can be seen through the auctioning off of the throne.
Being Prefect was by no means a safe job either, as Sejanus found out at the hands of Macro. And I imagine that in the year of the 4 Emperors, the Prefect changed positions with each arriving Emperor.
Now look, I'm writing Emperor instead of Princeps
Gwynn
-
- Member
- Posts: 2840
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 23:46
- Location: United Kingdom
LAH would have had to have really of stayed in Berlin and quashed people from launching coups to have really filled that role. Though initially I guess they were, prior to being sent to the front lines.
Fortunately for Hitler, he didn't have to worry terribly much about other people causing the people of Berlin to riot and remove him Unfortunate for us though.
Gwynn
Fortunately for Hitler, he didn't have to worry terribly much about other people causing the people of Berlin to riot and remove him Unfortunate for us though.
Gwynn
-
- Member
- Posts: 2840
- Joined: 10 Mar 2002, 23:46
- Location: United Kingdom
I'm always happy to post on Roman History Though my knowledge grows slightly thin after Domitian, I'll still happily contribute to any discussion.
Unfortunately I'm not majoring in Classics at University, as that would require me doing Latin to go further in it, however I'm making sure I still keep up with my Roman history, and to a lesser extent, Greek.
Gwynn
Unfortunately I'm not majoring in Classics at University, as that would require me doing Latin to go further in it, however I'm making sure I still keep up with my Roman history, and to a lesser extent, Greek.
Gwynn
Hmmmm.......You like Rome, do you?
Have you ever poked your nose into this lovely site? If not, it'll keep you busy for a LONG time, promise. The second link is specifically on the Praetorian Guard.
http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/legio.html
http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/ ... l#cohpraet
Have you ever poked your nose into this lovely site? If not, it'll keep you busy for a LONG time, promise. The second link is specifically on the Praetorian Guard.
http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/legio.html
http://members.tripod.com/~S_van_Dorst/ ... l#cohpraet