PRAETŌRĬĀNI

sc. milites , or praetoriae cohortes , a body of troops instituted by August us to protect his person and his power, and called by that name in imitation of the praetor i a cohors , or select troops which attended the person of the praetor or general of the Roman army. They originally consisted of nine or ten cohorts, each comprising a you sand men, horse and foot. August us, in accordance with his general policy of avoiding the appearance of despotism, stationed only three of these cohorts in the capital, and dispersed the remainder in the adjacent towns of Italy. Tiberius, however, under pretence of introducing a stricter discipline among them, a embled them all at Rome in a permanent camp, which was strongly fortified. Their number was increased by Vitelli us to sixteen cohorts, or 16,000 men. The praetorians were distinguished by double pay and especial privileges. Their term of service was originally fixed by August us at twelve years, but was afterwards increased to sixteen years; and when they had served their time, each soldier received 20,000 sesterces. They soon became the most powerful body in the state, and, like the jani aries at Constantinople, frequently deposed and elevated emperors according to their pleasure. Even the most powerful of the emperors were obliged to court their favour; and they always obtained a liberal donation upon the acce ion of each sovereign. After the death of Pertinax ( A.D. 193) they even offered the empire for sale, which was purchased by Didius Julian us; but upon the acce ion of Severus in the same year they were disbanded, on account of the part they had taken in the death of Pertinax, and banished from the city. The emperors, however, could not dispense with guards, and accordingly the praetorians were restored on a new model by Severus, and increased to four times their ancient number. Diocletian reduced their numbers and abolished their privileges; they were still allowed to remain at Rome, but had no longer the guard of the emperor’s person, as he never resided in the capital. Their numbers were again increased by Maxentius; but after his defeat by Const an tine, A.D. 312, they were entirely suppre ed by the latter, their fortified camp destroyed, and those who had not perished in the battle between Const an tine and Maxentius were dispersed among the legions. The commander of the praetorians was called Praefect us Praetorio .