Praetorian

A riveting account of ancient Rome’s imperial bodyguard, the select band of soldiers who wielded the power to make—or destroy—the emperors they served

Founded by Augustus around 27 B.C., the elite Praetorian Guard was tasked with the protection of the emperor and his family. As the centuries unfolded, however, Praetorian soldiers served not only as protectors and enforcers but also as powerful political players. Fiercely loyal to some emperors, they vied with others and ruthlessly toppled those who displeased them, including Caligula, Nero, Pertinax, and many more. Guy de la Bédoyère provides a compelling first full narrative history of the Praetorians, whose dangerous ambitions ceased only when Constantine permanently disbanded them.
 
de la Bédoyère introduces Praetorians of all echelons, from prefects and messengers to artillery experts and executioners. He explores the delicate position of emperors for whom prestige and guile were the only defenses against bodyguards hungry for power. Folding fascinating details into a broad assessment of the Praetorian era, the author sheds new light on the wielding of power in the greatest of the ancient world’s empires.

“"This book is a lively and up-to-date history of the Praetorian Guard, the anti-coup divisions of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Constantine. De la Bdoyre tells their story with clarity and panache, and his book can be most warmly recommended both to aspiring tyrants and the ordinary armchair historian."--Peter Thonemann, Sunday Times "De la Bedoyere, a British historian and broadcaster, has quite properly set this very detailed account, backed with excellent appendices and extensive notes, in the full context of contemporary history. . . . Any future researcher into the subject will certainly begin here."--Peter Jones, Times "This is a fast paced and engaging history of the Praetorian Guard."--Harry Sidebottom, Sunday Telegraph "A definitive and highly readable account of a key institution of the Roman Empire."--Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic "The dramatic story of the soldiers at the heart of the Roman empire. Lively and full of insight, de la Bedoyere traces the history of the praetorians and the emperors they served, murdered and made, through three hundred years of intrigue and drama."--Adrian Goldsworthy”

“Any future researcher into the subject will certainly begin here.”—Peter Jones, Times (London)

"This book is a lively and up-to-date history of the Praetorian Guard, the anti-coup divisions of the Roman emperors from Augustus to Constantine. De la Bédoyère tells their story with clarity and panache, and his book can be most warmly recommended both to aspiring tyrants and the ordinary armchair historian."—Peter Thonemann, Sunday Times

"This is a fast paced and engaging history of the Praetorian Guard."—Harry Sidebottom, Sunday Telegraph

"Aptly illustrated and impeccably referenced, with a helpful glossary and appendices. . . . It is an altogether impressive piece of compressed scholarship, a thorough study of its subject as well as an engaging history of imperial Rome."—Allan Mallinson, Spectator

"[Praetorian] shows that even popular histories can illustrate the complexity of imperial power. . . . Conveying complexity, without subjecting the reader to the dozens of triple-barreled Roman names that make up the finer grain of imperial politics, has long been de la Bedoyere’s metier, as has been the easy charm with which good popular history distinguishes itself."—Michael Kulikowski, London Review of Books

"A potted history of the Roman Empire, told through the triumphs and travails of the praetorians. . . . Praetorian is filled with engaging detail and grapples with the lacunae in the historical record with admirable assiduity. It will be a useful resource for any student of the tribulations of the Roman Empire."—Frank Brinkley, Literary Review

"De la Bedoyere’s book on the Praetorian’s will likely become the definitive account of the rise and fall of the emperor’s bodyguards."—History of War

"The dramatic story of the soldiers at the heart of the Roman empire. Lively and full of insight, de la Bedoyere traces the history of the praetorians and the emperors they served, murdered and made, through three hundred years of intrigue and drama."—Adrian Goldsworthy

"A definitive and highly readable account of a key institution of the Roman Empire."—Tom Holland, author of Rubicon: The Last Years of the Roman Republic

Guy de la Bédoyère is author of a widely admired series of books on Romano-British history. He has appeared regularly on the UK’s Channel 4 archaeology series Time Team and is well known in the United States for his volume The Romans for Dummies. He lives in Grantham, UK.

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