The Praetorian Guard of Imperial Rome was the power behind the throne, with the ability to make or break an emperor. As the main body of troops in Rome, they were the emperor's instrument to discourage plotting and rebellion and to crush unrest. The emperor's most immediate line of defence, they could also be his most deadly enemies. This book details the organization, dress and history of the Praetorian Guard from the time of the late Republic to the Guard's effective destruction at the battle of Milvian Bridge in AD 312. Numerous illustrations vividly depict the uniforms and weaponry of this elite fighting unit.
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An unrivalled illustrated reference source on fighting men and commanders, past and present. Each volume is packed with full colour artwork, making military history uniquely accessible to enthusiasts of all ages.
About the Author
Dr Boris Rankov was born in 1954 and studied Classics and Ancient History at Oxford, where he also wrote his doctoral thesis on Roman military staff officers. He has held a Research Fellowship at Oxford and lectureships in the United States and Western Australia. While at Oxford, he rowed in six winning Boat Race crews and has, since 1988, been one of the rowing masters on the reconstructed Greek trireme Olympias. He is joint author of a forthcoming study on Roman military intelliegence, and is currently Lecturer in Ancient History at Royal Holloway and Bedford New College, University of London.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
The sole book on the subject until now,
By Dimitrios (Greece) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Praetorian Guard (Elite) (Paperback)
Mr Rankov's book earns 5 stars because it remains the single book written about the Roman Praetorian Guard. It contains much information based on good and extensive bibliography and will surely satisfy the enthusiasts of this ancient period with the numerous b/w photographs and the color drawings which are explained in exhaustively detailed captions. A nice first try on the subject.
11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Good introduction to the subject.,
By
This review is from: The Praetorian Guard (Elite) (Paperback)
At only 62 pages this was better than I thought it would be. First it is an obscure and often neglected topic of the "Roman World." Starting from its inception during the long reign of the Emperor Augustus up to its disbandment. Their recruitment, uniforms, role, history, and equipment are all touched on to varying degrees. The photographs were somewhat more instructive than the color plates which were not nearly as good as Angus McBrides. There is a lengthy bibliography for further research.
4.0 out of 5 stars
Soldiers of the Emperors,
This review is from: The Praetorian Guard (Elite) (Paperback)
The Praetorian Guard developed in infamous reputation through massacres and bloody power struggles in ancient Rome. This Osprey book is a concise work detailing the elite formation's history, dress, and equipment. Events are covered from the Guard's formation to Nero's Germaic bodyguards to the final battle against Constantine at the Milvian Bridge. The colored illustrations are well done and nicely complement the text. Overall, a useful book for anyone wanting a general view of the Praetorian Guard or just interested in Roman Military history.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
the sieges of AD 238. In 271 the Emperor Aurelian ringed Rome with the impressive walls which still survive and bear his name, and he incorporated the Praetorian Camp into them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Trajan's Column, Praetorian Prefect, Equites Singulares Augusti, Septimius Severus, Great Trajanic Frieze, Milvian Bridge, Arch of Constantine, First Dacian War, Vatican Museum, Cassius Dio, Emperor Maxentius, German Bodyguard, Praetorian Cohorts, The Trustees of the British Museum, Dacian Wars, Dura Europus, Gaius Caligula, Imperial Italic, Praetorian Guard, Third Praetorian Cohort, Arch of Claudius, Emperor Trajan, Roman Military Equipment, Upper Germany, Urban Cohorts New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
the sieges of AD 238. In 271 the Emperor Aurelian ringed Rome with the impressive walls which still survive and bear his name, and he incorporated the Praetorian Camp into them. Read the first page Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Trajan's Column, Praetorian Prefect, Equites Singulares Augusti, Septimius Severus, Great Trajanic Frieze, Milvian Bridge, Arch of Constantine, First Dacian War, Vatican Museum, Cassius Dio, Emperor Maxentius, German Bodyguard, Praetorian Cohorts, The Trustees of the British Museum, Dacian Wars, Dura Europus, Gaius Caligula, Imperial Italic, Praetorian Guard, Third Praetorian Cohort, Arch of Claudius, Emperor Trajan, Roman Military Equipment, Upper Germany, Urban Cohorts New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 13
books:
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6
books
cite this book:
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- New History (Byzantina Australiensia 2) by Zosimus on page 14, and page 16
- Roman Military Equipment: From The Punic Wars To The Fall Of Rome by M C Bishop and J C N Coulston on page 27, and page 62
- Roman Soldier (Aspects of Greek & Roman Life Series) by G. R. Watson on page 63
- The Senate of Imperial Rome by Richard J.A. Talbert on page 63
- The Making of the Roman Army: From Republic to Empire by Lawrence Keppie on page 63
See all 13 books this book cites
- Roman Auxiliary Cavalryman: AD 14-193 (Warrior) by Nic Fields in Back Matter
- Armies of the Carthaginian Wars 265-146 BC (Men at Arms Series, 121) by Terence Wise in Back Matter
- The Roman Army from Hadrian to Constantine (Men at Arms Series, 93) by Michael Simkins in Back Matter
- Exploratio: Military & Political Intelligence in the Roman World from the Second Punic War to the Battle of Adrianople by N. J. E. Austin in Back Matter
- Soldiers and Ghosts: A History of Battle in Classical Antiquity by J. E. Lendon in Back Matter
See all 6 books citing this book
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