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Short description

A Praetorian Legion is made up of elite legionaries, recruited because of their superb soldiering skills and political loyalties.

Description

This unit represents the Praetorians that would have existed during the late Republic and early Principate. Soldiers like these would have formed the bodyguards of Octavian (later Augustus) and Marc Anthony from Caesar's death to the battle of Actium, and later they would have taken part in Germanicus Caesar's campaigns in Germany in the early 1st Century AD. Predominantly Italian in origin, the soldiers are equipped in much the same fashion as normal legionaries at the turn of the 1st Century AD, with a semi-cylindrical scutum, bronze "Montefortino"-style helmet, sturdy chain-mail armour (lorica hamata), a gladius (Fulham-pattern) and two pila, as shown on the late 1st century BC funerary monument known as the Altar of Domitius Ahenobarbus and confirmed by archaeological record. Note that two belts are worn - one for the gladius, and the other for the dagger (pugio). Despite some depictions in contemporary art, there is no hard evidence that the Praetorians ever wore Attic helmets, even on parade - a fact which many modern interpretations seem quite happy to ignore. Tough, well-trained and equipped, their discipline and morale are excellent, as one would expect of experienced legionaries, hand-picked from the best the legions of the Empire have to offer.

The Praetorian's Insignia were the "Moon and Stars", and the "Scorpion"; and originally, praetorians were chosen to guard the 'praetorium' - the tent of the legate of the legion while in the field. These men came to act as bodyguards for all important generals, before being made into specific formations that were considered useful in politics as well as war. It was Augustus who established the Praetorian Guard as both a bodyguard and for useful intimidation in Rome. Although its name has become synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination, it could be argued that for the first two centuries of its existence the Praetorian Guard was, on the whole, a positive force in the Roman state. During this time, it mostly removed (or allowed to be removed) cruel, weak and unpopular emperors while generally supporting just, strong and popular ones. By protecting these monarchs, thus extending their reigns, and also by keeping the disorders of the mobs of Rome and the intrigues of the Senate in line, the Guard helped give the empire much needed stability that led to the period known as the 'Pax Romana'.

Only after the reign of Marcus Aurelius, when this period is generally considered to have ended, the guard began to deteriorate into the ruthless, mercenary and meddling force for which it has become infamous. However, during the Severan dynasty and afterwards during the crises of the 3rd century, the legions, the Senate and the emperors, along with the rest of Roman government were falling into decadence as well.