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Osprey Warrior #170
Roman Guardsman 62 BC–AD 324
For four centuries, from the civil wars of the Late Republic to Constantine's bloody reunification of the Empire, elite corps of guardsmen were at the heart of every Roman army. Whether as bodyguards or as shock troops in battle, the fighting skills of praetorians, speculatores, singulares and protectores determined the course of Roman history.
This title details the changing nature of these units, their organization and operational successes, and failures from their origins in the late Republic through to their unsuccessful struggle against Constantine the Great.
This title details the changing nature of these units, their organization and operational successes, and failures from their origins in the late Republic through to their unsuccessful struggle against Constantine the Great.
64 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
February 5, 2024
Ross Cowan’s PhD thesis focused on the Praetorian Guard, and in this wonderful booklet he shows his love for the subject, his brilliant scholarship and the ease in which he conveys ponderous information in an exciting way. He probably felt that this was a return to the University of Glasgow and his research there.
The details the author provide through the careful study of tombstones, statuary, diplomas and archaeological remains complements the written records, sometimes giving a new angle or even challenging some preconceptions (such as that the guard wasn’t battle worthy; although with less experience than some legions, they were adequately trained and fared very well in the known engagements they fought).
Contrary to his PhD, this Osprey title doesn’t focus only in the Praetorian Cohors and the Praetorian Speculatores. Here, you will also find a wealth of information regarding Equites Singulares Augusti or the Germanis Corporis Custodes. Through rigorous analyses of the sources, the author reconstructs the lives of those guard units, their responsibilities in situations of civil unrest and riot control, their training, symbols and distinctive characteristics, length of service, organization, their battle record, their equipment, allegiances and revisits several interesting events that marked the popular view on the Praetorian Guard. Obviously the guard changed a lot (and was several times disbanded) through the large chronological period that this book tries to cover, but the author tries hard to provide a sense of evolution stating the main differences and changes. There are some doubts regarding the dates chosen, because there were Roman Guardsman before 62BC and also after 324AD, but without any doubt we have more information regarding the chosen period.
The author follows the careers of a number of guardsman using several sources. Extracting all possible tidbits of information from those sources, he provides coherent reconstructions of the life path of several guardsman. It’s really unfortunate that this book is only 60 pages, this subject surely deserves a full book by this author.
It includes many photographs of the usual monuments such as the restored “arch of Claudius” or the “Nile Mosaic”, but also many less well known gravestones and reliefs. It includes photographs of the Castra Praetoria (considering the size of the cohorts stationed in Rome, life there must had been quite cramped).
Competent art by Seán Ó'Brógain. It includes a standard bearer of Marc Antony's Cohors Speculatorum in 31 BC (with details of his weapons); a diagram showing the possible evolution of an equestrian maneuver in training (the Cantabrian maneuver); a veteran horse guardsman of the early 4th century AD with details from his weapons and helmet; Praetorian weapons and shields; Cavalry combat techniques with javelin and bow; a guardsman tracking bandits, early 3rd century AD; the last stand of Vitellius Praetorians (AD69); Maxentius' Praetorians at the battle of the Milvian bridge (AD312); some of these plates are truly very good, the one chosen for the cover of this book isn't the best of the lot.
I differ from the author in only one issue. The loyalty of the Guard. Ross Cowan considers that the many situations where the Praetorian Guard betrayed their vows were due to offenses done to them by the Emperor or due to failing to fulfill some financial promise; and also only done by a faction within the guard. Well obviously when our employer is a great honorable man, always respectful, with a great largesse of wealth to their employees it’s almost impossible to find dissent and it’s not a great show of loyalty to continue to serve faithfully such man. Loyalty is found when persons are under pressure, when there is reason to betray and the choice made is not to betray. So when Emperors were assassinated due to a bad choice of a password, I feel that those weren’t the best bodyguards in the world. We must also bear in mind that all conspiracies aren’t widespread through the entire units due to the danger of discovery, so here we don’t find saving grace for the Praetorians.
This is a must have book from a great author and it’s truly highly recommended.
The details the author provide through the careful study of tombstones, statuary, diplomas and archaeological remains complements the written records, sometimes giving a new angle or even challenging some preconceptions (such as that the guard wasn’t battle worthy; although with less experience than some legions, they were adequately trained and fared very well in the known engagements they fought).
Contrary to his PhD, this Osprey title doesn’t focus only in the Praetorian Cohors and the Praetorian Speculatores. Here, you will also find a wealth of information regarding Equites Singulares Augusti or the Germanis Corporis Custodes. Through rigorous analyses of the sources, the author reconstructs the lives of those guard units, their responsibilities in situations of civil unrest and riot control, their training, symbols and distinctive characteristics, length of service, organization, their battle record, their equipment, allegiances and revisits several interesting events that marked the popular view on the Praetorian Guard. Obviously the guard changed a lot (and was several times disbanded) through the large chronological period that this book tries to cover, but the author tries hard to provide a sense of evolution stating the main differences and changes. There are some doubts regarding the dates chosen, because there were Roman Guardsman before 62BC and also after 324AD, but without any doubt we have more information regarding the chosen period.
The author follows the careers of a number of guardsman using several sources. Extracting all possible tidbits of information from those sources, he provides coherent reconstructions of the life path of several guardsman. It’s really unfortunate that this book is only 60 pages, this subject surely deserves a full book by this author.
It includes many photographs of the usual monuments such as the restored “arch of Claudius” or the “Nile Mosaic”, but also many less well known gravestones and reliefs. It includes photographs of the Castra Praetoria (considering the size of the cohorts stationed in Rome, life there must had been quite cramped).
Competent art by Seán Ó'Brógain. It includes a standard bearer of Marc Antony's Cohors Speculatorum in 31 BC (with details of his weapons); a diagram showing the possible evolution of an equestrian maneuver in training (the Cantabrian maneuver); a veteran horse guardsman of the early 4th century AD with details from his weapons and helmet; Praetorian weapons and shields; Cavalry combat techniques with javelin and bow; a guardsman tracking bandits, early 3rd century AD; the last stand of Vitellius Praetorians (AD69); Maxentius' Praetorians at the battle of the Milvian bridge (AD312); some of these plates are truly very good, the one chosen for the cover of this book isn't the best of the lot.
I differ from the author in only one issue. The loyalty of the Guard. Ross Cowan considers that the many situations where the Praetorian Guard betrayed their vows were due to offenses done to them by the Emperor or due to failing to fulfill some financial promise; and also only done by a faction within the guard. Well obviously when our employer is a great honorable man, always respectful, with a great largesse of wealth to their employees it’s almost impossible to find dissent and it’s not a great show of loyalty to continue to serve faithfully such man. Loyalty is found when persons are under pressure, when there is reason to betray and the choice made is not to betray. So when Emperors were assassinated due to a bad choice of a password, I feel that those weren’t the best bodyguards in the world. We must also bear in mind that all conspiracies aren’t widespread through the entire units due to the danger of discovery, so here we don’t find saving grace for the Praetorians.
This is a must have book from a great author and it’s truly highly recommended.
March 27, 2017
Typical Osprey fare, good introduction, excellent art. I appreciated that the author took the time to show that the Praetorian Guard wasnt just a fluff posting and was often a battle hardened unit who fought well.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews