Abstract 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."
From the Paper "The purpose of this paper is to discuss Roman art of the Julio-Claudian period and assess its purposes and diversity. For paintings, much reliance will be placed on those preserved in Pompeii and Herculaneum, since few others have survived. A few works that fall slightly before or after A.D. 14-68, the period of interest, will also be mentioned when they shed significant light on the Julio-Claudian period.
For convenience, discussion of Julio-Claudian art will be divided into three sections, covering sculpture, paintings, and other artforms. The sculpture of this period presents very little that is new or startling, but study of the paintings preserved so completely beneath the ashes of Vesuvius continues to reveal more and more sophistication, more and more parallels with how art has evolved in more recent times."
Abstract Examines the Guard's power as the only military force in the Capital city. Issues of loyalty & disloyalty to various Emperors. Evolution of the Guard under the Julio-Claudian Emperors up to the death of Nero. Problems presented by armies, citizen militias. History of the Roman Army. Organization & mission of the Guard. Emperors Agustus, Tiberius, Caligula, Claudius, Nero.
From the Paper "Quis Custodiet Ipsos Custodes?
The Praetorian Guard under the Julio-Claudians
The Praetorian Guard, the personal guard force of the Roman emperors, 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. By the nature of its situation throughout the early and middle eras of the empire -- as the only military force in near the capital of an empire most of whose armies were dispersed among the frontiers -- it had the potential to control its imperial masters. Against a conspiracy or riot an Emperor could call upon the Praetorian Guard, but if the Guard itself..."
Abstract This paper compares Tiberius and Claudius with reference to their dealings with the senate, their civil administration and their provincial and frontier policy. In the first area, Tiberius' reliance on Sejanus and adherence to Augustus is compared to Claudius' development of the civil service at the expense of his freedmen. In the second area, Tiberius' frugality is compared to Claudius' extensive building projects. In the third area, Tiberius' diplomacy and consolidation is compared to Claudius' expansionism. It is eventually concluded that the reign of Tiberius was in the long term more profitable for Rome.
From the Paper "Finally, frontier and provincial policy was an area where the achievements, as well as the impact of each emperor varied significantly. Tiberius, as even Tacitus is prepared to concede, was a tactful and diplomatic administrator of the empire's borders, who focused more on consolidation than expansionism. Tacitus states that he strengthened the eastern frontiers by 'astute diplomacy without warfare.' (Annals, p216) Even in Africa, his suppression of the revolt of Tacfarinas was done with as little bloodshed as possible, and Bradley (p 535) notes that 'in two years peace returned to the province.' For the large part, Tiberius was content to maintain the policies of Augustus, using with slow Romanisation of provinces by installing client-kings."
