Osprey Elite 50 : The Praetorian Guard

The Praetorian Guard have become a byword for any military force which is used to prop up a ruthless regime. There is no doubt that they performed this function in the Roman Empire. As the main body of troops in Rome they were the emperor's instrument to discourage plotting and rebellion and to crush unrest. They were the emperor's most immediate line of defence; they could also, on occasion, be his most deadly enemies. Throughout their history the Guard were all too aware that they could make or destroy emperors as they wished. Boris Rankov details the organisation, dress and history from their early days to the Guard's effective destruction at the battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312, and also details the guard units of the third and fourth centuries that replaced those lost. Packed with photographs and illustrations, including 12 full page colour plates by Richard Hook.

Contents

• Introduction
• Origins of the Guard
• Organisation
• The Julo-Claudians
• From Vitellus to Hadrian
• The 2nd and 3rd Centuries
• Uniforms and Equipment