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ROMAN GUARDSMAN

62 BC–AD 324

ROSS COWAN

ILLUSTRATED BY SEÁN Ó’BRÓGÁIN

WARRIOR 170

ROMAN GUARDSMAN

62 BC–AD 324

ROSS COWAN

ILLUSTRATED BY SEÁN Ó’BRÓGÁIN

Series editor Marcus Cowper

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

CHRONOLOGY

ORIGINS AND EARLY HISTORY

RECRUITMENT AND TERMS OF SERVICE

TRAINING

ORGANIZATION

EQUIPMENT AND APPEARANCE

DAILY LIFE

BATTLE

AFTER THE BATTLE

FURTHER READING

GLOSSARY

INDEX

ROMAN GUARDSMAN,

62 BC–AD 324

INTRODUCTION

For four centuries, from the civil wars of the Late Republic to Constantine’s

bloody reunification of the Empire, elite units of guardsmen were at the heart

of every Roman army. Whether as bodyguards or as shock troops in battle, the

fighting skills of praetorians,

speculatores, custodes

and

singulares

determined

the course of Roman history.

The reputation of Roman guardsmen, especially those belonging to the

Imperial praetorian cohorts, is bad. There was a suspicion that they were lazy

and battle-shy, that their role as guards in the great metropolis of Rome, with

all its distractions, enervated them as soldiers and made them greedy and

susceptible to corruption and treachery. But if the praetorians were so bad,

why did the emperors retain them for so long?

It cannot be denied that the praetorians assassinated or abandoned a

considerable number of emperors, but it will be shown that their motivations

were complex and bound up with Roman notions of honour and codes of

acceptable behaviour.

We will explore the fascinating history of the praetorians, and their fellow

guardsmen, from their first appearance in battle at Pistoria in 62 bc, to their

heroic last stand by the Milvian Bridge in ad 312, and consider the afterlife

of the old guards units up to ad 324. We will follow guardsmen through

recruitment and training and examine their varied duties, including sentry

A much restored relief

from the Arch of Claudius

(

51), depicting praetorian

guardsmen. The heads of the

figures in the foreground are

restored, and the helmets of

all the soldiers are the result

of artistic licence, but the

decorated muscle cuirass

of the officer (a tribune?),

the curved oval

scuta,

and

the heavy

pila

may be taken

as accurate depictions of

praetorian equipment. The

legionary-type eagle standard

harks back to the Late Republic

when praetorians were selected

from the best legionaries.

duty in Rome, firefighting, and pursuing bandits through

the Italian countryside. We will consider the tactical

organization of the guards units, and see how they were

used in battle.

This book will dispel the popular image of the unworthy

Roman guardsman, who will be revealed as ferociously

loyal, highly trained and always ready for action.

CHRONOLOGY

Marcus Petreius’ praetorian cohort

breaks Sullan veterans at Pistoria.

Praetorian cohort of

caetrati

Marcus Petreius’ army in Spain.

Caesar dismisses Spanish

bodyguards; Marc Antony and

Octavian form guard units from Caesar’s veterans.

Praetorian cohorts in action at Forum Gallorum;

Octavian’s cohort destroyed.

Praetorian cohorts in Antony’s Parthian expedition.

Praetorians and

speculatores

in Actium campaign.

Octavian disbands Calagurritani bodyguard.

Octavian becomes the first Roman emperor; he takes

the name Augustus and doubles the praetorians’ pay.

Praetorian service set at 12 years.

Praetorian service increased to 16 years.

Varian disaster;

Germani corporis custodes

temporarily

removed from Rome.

Praetorians and

Germani

with Drusus in Pannonia.

Two praetorian cohorts with Germanicus at Idisiovisa.

Completion of Castra Praetoria; all nine praetorian

cohorts quartered in Rome.

Fall of the praetorian prefect Sejanus.

Number of praetorian cohorts increased to 12.

Praetorians and

Germani

in Caligula’s German

expedition.

Caligula murdered by praetorian officers led by Cassius

Chaerea; praetorians declare Claudius emperor.

Praetorians in Claudius’ invasion of Britain.

Praetorians with Nero in Greece.

Praetorians abandon Nero and recognize Galba

as emperor; Galba disbands

Germani.

Praetorians declare Otho emperor and kill Galba. Otho’s

guardsmen campaign against Vitellians in Liguria and

Narbonensis; praetorian successes at Placentia and

Castores, followed by defeat at Cremona; Otho commits

suicide. Vitellius disbands praetorian cohorts and enrols

new Guard; Othonian praetorians rally to Flavians;

defeat of Vitellians at second battle of Cremona. Last

stand of the Vitellian praetorians at the Castra Praetoria.

Guardsmen on the coinage.

Top: Caligula addresses the

praetorians. The emperor

made Cassius Chaerea,

a tough praetorian tribune,

the butt of offensive jokes, and

was killed for it (

41). Middle

and bottom: coins issued by

Gallienus (r.

260–268) to

celebrate the loyalty of the

praetorians and

equites

singulares.

Note the lion,

perhaps the emblem of the

praetorians in the third century

37–47

66–68

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