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The Praetorian Guard
- Tiberius
- Symbol of Threat
- Tacitus: Sejanus concentrated
the Guard into one camp just
outside of Rome.
- Suetonius: Tiberius concentrated the Guard into one camp to
prevent riots and banditry attacks. Though one could argue
that Tiberius did this to ensure the people's safety, it is more
convincing that this sent an alternative message - that the
Guard was very close and the people should not challenge
Tiberius, thus becomes the Guard becomes a symbol of threat.
- Tacitus: Sejanus concentrated
the Guard into one camp just
outside of Rome.
- Symbol of Power
- The Praetorian Guard was similar to
a royal guard; if you exercised control
over it, you were publicly saying that
you held the position of Princeps.
- Tacitus: when Tiberius acceded Augustus, he gave
the watch word to the Guard and had them escort
him into the Senate House. It is not apparent that
Tiberius has taken control of the empire, but this
becomes explicit once he does this.
- Tacitus: in the trial of Urgulania, Tiberius wishes to represent
her as her Pater Familias (the head of the household) rather
than as Princeps to prevent him swaying the verdict. To do this,
he sends his guard away. This is a symbolic gesture, that he is
removing his imperial power by removing his guard, thus
showing that the Guard is a symbol of Tiberius' power.
- The Praetorian Guard was similar to
a royal guard; if you exercised control
over it, you were publicly saying that
you held the position of Princeps.
- Symbol of Hypocrisy
- Tacitus: the guard becomes a symbol of Tiberius' hypocrisy in
his accession. He tells the Senate that the arrangement of
Augustus' last rites will be the only state affair he will perform
and is hesitant to take power. Yet he takes control of the Guard,
thus publicly saying that he holds the power of the Princeps.
- Suetonius: he suggests that Tiberius did not hesitate to
exercise his power by calling on the Praetorians to provide him
with a bodyguard, which was to rule in fact and in appearance.
But Suetonius explains that this was long before he assumed
the position of Princeps, showing Tiberius to be a hypocrite.
- Tacitus: the guard becomes a symbol of Tiberius' hypocrisy in
his accession. He tells the Senate that the arrangement of
Augustus' last rites will be the only state affair he will perform
and is hesitant to take power. Yet he takes control of the Guard,
thus publicly saying that he holds the power of the Princeps.
- Succession Policy
- Cassius Dio: portrays Sejanus as being almost as equal to
Tiberius, describing that he had statues erected alongside him and
shared a consulship with him. This shows that Sejanus could be
being groomed to be the next emperor, or at least he was plotting
to be. Tiberius had him replaced by Macro, who killed Sejanus.
This shows that in times of need, the Praetorian Guard are
extremely important and may have effected succession as well.
- Suetonius: (not set, Gaius 12) Gaius is said to have had Macro
kill Tiberius with poison, and when he began to fight,
smothered him with a pillow. This shows that for you to succeed
power in the principate, you must have the Guard onside,
showing that they were significant in regard to succession.
- Cassius Dio: portrays Sejanus as being almost as equal to
Tiberius, describing that he had statues erected alongside him and
shared a consulship with him. This shows that Sejanus could be
being groomed to be the next emperor, or at least he was plotting
to be. Tiberius had him replaced by Macro, who killed Sejanus.
This shows that in times of need, the Praetorian Guard are
extremely important and may have effected succession as well.
- Symbol of Threat
- Claudius
- Symbol of Threat
- Suetonius: when Claudius came to power, the Senate wished for
the return of the Republic. They had the Urban Cohorts on side
while Claudius had the Praetorian Guard, which were greater in
size. Thus, Claudius is sending the Senate a message that they
shouldn't challenge his because of his large body of guards.
- Numismatics: Claudius publicly displayed his close ties to
the Guard by putting the Praetorian Camp on coins. It can
be assumed that this was represented Claudius' gratitude
towards the Guard, as thy made him emperor effectively,
but also served to remind the Senate that Claudius had the
Guard onside.
- Suetonius: when Claudius came to power, the Senate wished for
the return of the Republic. They had the Urban Cohorts on side
while Claudius had the Praetorian Guard, which were greater in
size. Thus, Claudius is sending the Senate a message that they
shouldn't challenge his because of his large body of guards.
- Symbol of Power
- Suetonius: Gaius Caligula was killed by on of the members of the
Praetorian Guard. This shows how much power they had. Therefore, for
an emperor to obtain stable power, they needed the Guard on side, thus
the power of the Guard becomes bound to that of the Princeps - if the
emperor loses the Guard, they lose their power.
- Suetonius: Gaius Caligula was killed by on of the members of the
Praetorian Guard. This shows how much power they had. Therefore, for
an emperor to obtain stable power, they needed the Guard on side, thus
the power of the Guard becomes bound to that of the Princeps - if the
emperor loses the Guard, they lose their power.
- Succession Policy
- Tacitus: Agrippina alongside Pallas had, by the end of Claudius'
reign, replaced the entire body of the Praetorian Guard with those
of whom she could trust. She replaced the commander of the Guard
with Burrus. This becomes more obvious when Nero comes to
power, where all the guard cheer for him and not for Britannicus.
- Tacitus: Agrippina alongside Pallas had, by the end of Claudius'
reign, replaced the entire body of the Praetorian Guard with those
of whom she could trust. She replaced the commander of the Guard
with Burrus. This becomes more obvious when Nero comes to
power, where all the guard cheer for him and not for Britannicus.
- Protection
- Suetonius: when the Guard made
Claudius emperor, they took him to the
Praetorian Camp to protect him.
- Suetonius: Claudius had had Silius (Messalina's
lover/husband) killed within the Praetorian Camp. This
shows that they when the emperor needs protection from a
possible threat, the Guard are extremely influential.
- Suetonius: when the Guard made
Claudius emperor, they took him to the
Praetorian Camp to protect him.
- Symbol of Threat
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