25 Facts About Praetorian Guard

1.

Praetorian Guard was a unit of the Imperial Roman army that served as personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors.

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2.

Legionaries known as the Praetorian Guard were first hand-picked veterans of the Roman army who served as bodyguards to the emperor.

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3.

The Praetorian Guard was ultimately dissolved by Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century.

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4.

Under Nero, the pay of a Praetorian Guard was three and a half times that of a legionary, augmented by prime additions of, granted by each new emperor.

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5.

Early Praetorian Guard differed greatly from that in later times, which came to be a vital force in the power politics of Rome.

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6.

Praetorian Guard concentrated under his command all the Praetorian cohorts in the new camp.

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7.

Praetorian Guard used that position to render himself essential to the new emperor Tiberius, who was unable to persuade the Senate to share the responsibility of governing the Empire.

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8.

Praetorian Guard almost succeeded, but his plot was discovered and revealed in AD 31 and he was killed.

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9.

Praetorian Guard is the first emperor proclaimed by the Praetorian Guard and compensated the guard with a prime bonus worth five years their salary.

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10.

Praetorian Guard cancelled the guard service of the Praetorians at the entry to the emperor's palace, but retained guards within the palace itself.

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11.

Under Vespasian's second son, Domitian, the number of cohorts was increased to 10, and the Praetorian Guard participated in fighting in Germania and on the Danube against the Dacians.

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12.

At the death of Nerva, at the beginning of 98, the Praetorian Guard supported Trajan, commander of the Army of the Rhine, as new emperor.

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13.

Praetorian Guard executed the remaining Praetorian prefect and his partisans.

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14.

The Praetorian Guard was dissolved and replaced by men transferred from his own army.

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15.

Praetorian Guard created problems by trying to recreate a Macedonian phalanx witnessed previously in the Roman Army.

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16.

The Praetorian Guard saw much action in the Year of the Four Emperors in 69, fighting well for Otho at the first battle of Bedriacum.

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17.

Praetorian Guard influenced and intervened in the imperial succession to name the new, which was a political decision that the unarmed Senate accepted, ratified, and proclaimed to the people of Rome.

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18.

From Vespasian onwards the Praetorian Guard prefecture was always held by an equestrian of the order.

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19.

Praetorian Guard Cohorts were designated as Turmae with centuries formed of infantry, initially of 500 men each.

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20.

The Praetorian Guard could become a cavalryman after almost five years service in the infantry.

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21.

Originally, the Praetorian Guard was recruited from the populations of central Italy .

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22.

The men who attained the command of the Praetorian Guard following year 2 BC were equites with an elevated seniority, classifying right behind the prefect of Egypt.

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23.

Praetorian Guard helmets included tall Galea with elaborate detail worked into the metal.

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24.

Each legion had its own emblem displayed on its Scutum and the Praetorian Guard were probably the only unit to include additional insignia on their shields.

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25.

Praetorian Guard shields included wings and thunderbolts, referring to Jupiter, and uniquely included scorpions, stars and crescents.

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