The Praetorian Guard

Paper Summary:

This paper looks at the Praetorian Guard, the personal guard force of the Roman emperors, which has become a byword for the ability of a bodyguard to control and ultimately to elevate or depose, the person whom it is supposed to guard. It examines how it was the only military force that had the potential to control its imperial masters. In particular it examines its role under the reign of the Julio-Claudians and how they were able to complete the marginalization of the Senate in favor of the Julio-Claudian family.

Outline
The Problem of Armies
Alternative Possible Solutions
Princeps and Imperator
The Roman Army: From Militia to Caesarism
The Augustan Solution
The Praetorian Guard: Organization and Mission
The Praetorian Guard in Augustan Security Strategy
The Praetorian Guard and the Emperors
Conclusion

From the Paper:

"Historians speak of the earlier period of the Roman Empire as the Principate, but it is fair to say that as a primary title for Augustus' successors it fell into relative abeyance at an early date. Augustus survived as a general term of respect, to become a formal title for a "senior" emperor under the system of divided imperial authority under Diocletian. Caesar, originally a family name, also survived as a general title of respect, and ultimately gave rise to Tsar in Russian and Kaiser in German. But it is emperor, from the military title Imperator, that became the imperial title par excellence."

More papers on The Praetorian Guard:

• Essay # 6541 : "The Praetorian Guard and the Political System"
• Research Paper # 24442 : "The Praetorian Guard of the Roman Emperors"
• Comparison Essay # 116054 : "Adam Smith and Karl Marx"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: