The Praetorian Guard

В настоящей статье был рассмотрен статус и деятельность преторианской гвардии от убийства Домициана в 96 г. и до возвращения Траяна в Рим в 98 г. Префекты претория участвовали в заговоре против Домициана. Мятеж преторианцев осенью 97 г. был связан со стремлением отомстить за убитого принцепса. Новый префект Касперий Элиан не выступал против Нервы по заданию Траяна. В результате, преторианская гвардия не стала политическим актором как в 68–69 гг.

The paper concerns the status and activities of the Praetorian guard from the murders of Domitian in 96 and until Trajan’s returned to Rome in 98. The praefectus praetorio participated in the conspiracy against Domitian. The praetorians mutiny in the fall of 97 was associated with the desire to avenge of the murdered princeps. The new praefectus Casperius Aelianus did not oppose Nerva on the instructions of Trajan. Consequently, the Praetorian guard had not been the political actor like in 68-69.

Статья посвящена участию императорских подразделений в войнах II в. н. э. С конца I в. н. э. телохранители императора стали играть все большую роль во внешних войнах, которые вела Римская империя. В походах Домициана 80-х годов I в. н. э. принимала участие преторианская гвардия. С приходом к власти Антонинов произошли изменения и в элитных частях римской армии, что было связано с созданием корпуса equites singulares Augusti. Две Дакийские войны и Парфянская кампания, которые вела Римская империя в правление Траяна, отличились задействованием императорских подразделений. Его преемники также использовали своих телохранителей как полноценную боевую единицу. Целью нашего исследования является анализ опыта использования преторианской гвардии и equites singulares Augusti в войнах, которые вела Римская империя в II в. н. э.

Quali istituzioni politiche hanno accompagnato - e in parte determinato - la straordinaria vicenda storica di Roma antica? Cosa conosciamo del loro funzionamento e della loro evoluzione? Quali sono stati i principali interrogativi della lunghissima tradizione esegetica della quale siamo debitori? In base a quali suggestioni, invece, per secoli si è reinterpretato, attualizzato e, non da ultimo, strumentalizzato il vincente – e avvincente – “modello romano” nelle sue varie declinazioni? Per quali ragioni la comprensione di concetti politici d’indubbia attualità non può prescindere dallo studio di Roma antica? Tenendo presenti questi interrogativi di fondo, l’autore propone una guida sintetica al complesso sistema politico-istituzionale romano: un sistema che, sebbene lontano, offre ancora molti spunti di riflessione

Publius Helvius Pertinax (126-193 CE) was Roman emperor in the early months of 193, following the murder of Commodus. While feted by the senatorial order, he struggled to win the loyalty of other political constituencies within the Roman state. After a reign of only eighty-seven days, he was assassinated in the imperial palace by soldiers of the praetorian guard.

For EAH, see:  https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/book/10.1002/9781444338386

In Roman history, the Praetorian Guard is often described as a seditious and selfish force, one that often killed the very men they were sworn to protect. Edward Gibbon noted that the guard was a symptom and cause of the decline of Rome, and many others have written about the instances in which the guard betrayed their vows and murdered the emperor, usually causing quite the political upheaval. What has not been done is an essay that seeks to examine the specific instances of the guard and connect their actions together in a narrative that hopes to understand what effect, if any, the praetorians may have had on the political structure of the Roman Empire. Where others have written about single murders and usurpations by praetorian prefects and the cohorts, none have tried to explain what this did for the political climate at Rome. When praetorians killed those on the throne, one wonders if they did this for selfish reasons, or if they did this for the good of the empire. Furthermore, one must ask if the actions of the guard were a contributing, or negligible, factor of the chaos that reigned throughout the third century. Thus the conclusion of this study will be to determine if the praetorians (both the cohorts and the prefects) were ultimately helpful for the empire, or if they were detrimental to the welfare of the state.

The article presented herein is a translation of an article published in “Klio. Journal of Polish and World History” 2012, vol. 20, pp. 3–44, therefore it does not include the literature published later (apart from references to new volumes of PIR2). The minor changes introduced are mainly editorial and connected with the need to adapt the text for the English speaking reader.

Summary: The article presents the history of ten praetorian prefects of Emperor Commodus. The prosopographical method used by the author of the article is extremelyuseful in the studies on individuals in the society of Imperium Romanum. In this typeof research, it is particularly important to note that praefecti praetorio as a clerical elite were very well represented in ancient sources, which renders historical material highly representable for this group. During the twelve years’ rule of Commodus, the number of praefecti praetorio, representing nearly forty percent of these officials during the reign of the emperors of the Antonine dynasty (96–192), clearly indicates lack of stability and continuous political struggle in the Rome of those days. The presentation of ten praetorian prefects, the highest equestrian officials, sheds light on the political system of the last emperor of the Antonine dynasty.

The historiographical sources about the relationship between Antoni- nus and the Praetorian Guard are not too lacking and not too far from the events narrated. Actually, as always happens proceeding with the research, it is possible to realise that many aspects need still to be en- lightened; one has the perception of some forcing in the construction of the historical narration and that a relatively wide margin for clari ca- tions, adjustment and enrichments is not lacking. Using all the avail- able sources (literary, epigraphic, archaeological and numismatic), in the  rst part of the essay I will focus on the nature of the bond between soldiers and emperor; in the second part I will try to give a picture of the life of the Praetorians at the time of Caracalla, through the cults practiced and the relations entertained.

Roma. En la residencia palatina, el soberano del más grande imperio occidental ni siquiera se permite pasear por sus jardines sin ser vigilado.  El poder genera ambición por ocuparlo, y no había mayor poder en la Antigüedad que el emperador. Las campañas fronterizas contra los germanos o los partos suponen un peligro adicional. Nunca sus enemigos extranjeros tendrán otra oportunidad como esa para tratar de acabar con su vida. En realidad, no existía un lugar totalmente seguro. Los pretorianos surgieron con una única y difícil misión, proteger su vida y la de su familia allí donde se encontraran.

Estrictamente escogidos entre los mejores soldados de todo el imperio. Entrenados diariamente para cumplir su cometido. Miles de soldados de elite estaban las órdenes de la casa imperial, acuartelados en el Castra Preatoria. Los pretorianos surgieron como unidad militar el 27 a.C. y se mantuvieron en su puesto hasta el 312 d.C., más de tres siglos de Historia donde compartirían funciones con los guardias germanos y los más expertos jinetes de la guardia real antes de que Constantino dictara su disolución. Ningún soberano fue tan audaz como para presentarse en combate sin tenerlos cerca. Si sus oponentes amenazaban con obtener la victoria ese era el momento para que actuaran mientras el resto de soldados contemplaban como conseguían cambiar el destino de la batalla hasta destruir a sus enemigos. Su preparación era la mejor, sus medios ilimitados y su capacidad no tenía igual. No existían soldados más diestros entre las tropas romanas.

Criticados por los autores clásicos, odiados por el pueblo, temidos por el Senado y envidiados por el resto del ejercito legionario, su actuación estuvo marcada por el heroísmo y la traición. Su poder creció hasta convertirse en la llave de la política Roma y no tardaron en aprovecharse de ello. Un relato épico sobre la guardia imperial romana, los guerreros seleccionados para proteger la integridad del Estado cuyo destino estaba en sus manos. Siempre preparados para neutralizar cualquier amenaza, quizá salvaron la vida a tantos emperadores como a los que se la arrebataron.

Arturo Sánchez, especialista en Historia Antigua y Militar ofrece la primera obra extensa sobre los pretorianos en nuestro idioma. Se mostrará su entrenamiento, tácticas, cuadros de mando y privilegios; su actuación en el frente y en la capital del imperio, no solo como soldados sino, incluso, como verdugos o espías. Se estudiará en detalle el campamento militar más importante de Roma, cuyos muros aun se levantan imponentes tras dos milenios. Todo ello tras una ardua y exhaustiva investigación para mostrar por fin la completa Historia de uno de los cuerpos militares de elite más importantes del mundo, aquellos que controlaron el devenir del imperio.

A lo largo de sus tres siglos de historia en la época imperial romana, la función principal de la Guardia Pretoriana fue la protección de la figura del emperador allí donde este se encontrara, ya fuera actuando permanentemente como su escolta y guardia personal  en el palacio imperial o como última línea de defensa en el ámbito militar. Pero como cuerpo de élite del ejército romano acantonado en la capital del Imperio también se les encomendó el mantenimiento y, en su caso, restablecimiento del orden allí donde fuera necesario. Así, la Guardia Pretoriana se conformaría como una de las piezas clave en la historia imperial romana como uno de los actores principales no solo a nivel militar sino también a nivel político, papel este último muy alejado de las funciones iniciales para las que fue creada pero que poco a poco fue cobrando especial relevancia tanto por su cercanía a la figura de los sucesivos emperadores como por su acantonamiento en la capital imperial. Consciente de su poder, no fueron pocas las ocasiones en que los pretorianos utilizaron su posición e influencias para dirigir y aprovechar los habituales cambios políticos en la cúspide del poder . Pero, aun siendo menos conocida, no sería menor la importancia bélica que en los campos de batalla protagonizarían los pretorianos en numerosas ocasiones como unidad militar y que a la postre les consagraría como uno de los pilares fundamentales del régimen imperial prácticamente desde su creación, en tiempos de Augusto , hasta su desmantelamiento llevado a cabo por el emperador Majencio.
Como cuerpo de élite del ejército, reconocidos como los mejor entrenados y preparados como demostraron en no pocas ocasiones, y en base a su especial misión recibían una paga superior al del resto de soldados; y su tiempo de servicio era varios años menor, por lo que resultaban ser la envidia del resto de unidades militares y en particular de aquellos que servían en el limes del imperio . Es por ello que trataremos aquí de realizar un estudio esquemático sobre su formación, estructura, actuaciones, etc. con el fin de ahondar en el conocimiento de esta institución muchas veces denostada por algunas de sus intervenciones.

L’étude de l’intégration des soldats originaires de Gallia Belgica au sein de l’Vrbs est abordée sur base des ressources épigraphiques. L’article propose l’édition, la traduction française et l’analyse des inscriptions des six soldats belges connus (quatre prétoriens et deux equites singulares Augusti) ayant servi dans la garnison de Rome durant l’époque impériale. Les informations fournies, notamment par l’onomastique et la mention des noms des divinités, apportent une contribution à l’étude du processus complexe de romanisation. Favorisées par la notion institutionnalisée de communis patria, les traditions et cultures provinciales entrecroisent le mode de vie de la capitale de l’Empire dans une subtile alchimie révélée par l’épigraphie.

The study of the integration to the Vrbs of the soldiers coming from Gallia Belgica is based on epigraphic sources. The article offers the transcription, the French translation and the analysis of the inscriptions of the six known Belgian soldiers (four praetorians and two equites singulares Augusti) who served in the Roman garrison during the Imperial period. The onomastics and the mention of the names of the divinities provide information which makes its contribution to the study of the complex Romanization process. Favoured by the institutionalized notion of communis patria, the provincial traditions and cultures are intertwined with the way of life of the Imperial capital in a subtle alchemy revealed by the epigraphy.

The Roman army between the Alps and the Adriatic Recenzenta / Reviewed by Mitja Guštin, Irena Lazar Tehnična ureditev / Technical Editors Primož Pavlin, Mateja Belak Oblikovanje ovitka / Front cover design Tamara Korošec Priprava slikovnega gradiva in prelom / Preparation of illustrations and DTP Mateja Belak Izdala in založila / Published by Inštitut za arheologijo ZRC SAZU, Založba ZRC Zanju / Represented by Oto Luthar, Anton Velušček Glavni urednik / Editor-in-Chief Aleš Pogačnik Tisk / Printed by Collegium Graphicum d. o. o. Izid knjige sta podprla / Javna agencija za raziskovalno dejavnost RS (Slovenian Research Agency), Published with the support of Znanstvenoraziskovalni center SAZU (Research Centre of the Slovenian Academy of Sciences and Arts) Ljubljana 2016; prva izdaja, prvi natis / first edition, first print prva e-izdaja / first e-edition © 2016, ZRC SAZU, Inštitut za arheologijo, Založba ZRC Vse pravice pridržane. Noben del te knjige ne sme biti reproduciran, shranjen ali prepisan v kateri koli obliki oz. na kateri koli način, bodisi elektronsko, mehansko, s fotokopiranjem, snemanjem ali kako drugače, brez predhodnega pisnega dovoljenja lastnikov avtorskih pravic. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publisher. CIP -Kataložni zapis o publikaciji Narodna in univerzitetna knjižnica, Ljubljana 94(37)(082) 94(4-191.2)«652«(082) 355(37)(082) The ROMAN army between the Alps and the Adriatic / edited by Jana Horvat. -1. izd., 1. natis = 1st ed., 1st print. -Ljubljana : Založba ZRC, 2016. -(Opera Instituti Archaeologici Sloveniae, ISSN 1408-5208 ; 31. Studia Alpium et Adriae, ISSN 2464-0131 ; 1) ISBN 978-961-254-926-8 1. Horvat, Jana, 1959-286078720

The Praetorians of popular imagination were the brutal self-serving ‘power behind the throne’ in ancient Rome, ruthlessly efficient in supporting their emperor, but quick to change their allegiance. Their status as a highly-paid corps d’élite is equally often linked with prowess on the battlefield. But is there any evidence to support their reputation as an elite strike force?

This paper is concerned principally with two questions: first, the numerical strength of the praetorian cohorts in the second and third centuries and, second, the length of service for guardsmen in the third century. The first question was discussed in 1938 by M. Durry whose conclusions have been widely, but not universally, accepted as the standard guide. The aim of Part I of this paper is to challenge his enumeration and to suggest an alternative. Part II requires no comment at this juncture.

F ROM the moment of its first publication in 19031 the career inscription of C. Velius Rufus has been the subject of a great deal of attention and scholarly debate.2 Why this should have been so is clear enough: the text records the career of a man who, beginning as a centurion (probably not in the ranks), not on rse to the coveted primipilate but went on to important independent field commands and an administrative career which culminated in major procuratorial governorships. More important still for historians of the period, the career included special commands which shed vital new light on the otherwise often obscure warfare of the reign of Domitian. The interpretation and chronology of the career as it appears in standard textbook treatments of the period may be said to be essentially that of Ritterling as modified and refined by a succession of eminent scholars, notably Syme, Pflaum and Dobson.3 This mainstream interpretation was summarized most recently by the last of these in I978.

The article describes the military and civil functions performed in Italy
by the soldiers of the praetorian fleet of Ravenna in addition to the praetorian and urban cohorts. During the early empire both seamen and praetorians were detached along the coasts and at the nodal points of the hydro-road system of the Peninsula, in order to grant security in cities and along the roads. They also took care of escorting the emperor during his travels and protecting him where he stayed. Until the 3rd century A.D. Italy suffered no external attacks, if not occasionally. It is in
fact in this last period that evidence concerning legionaries in service intensifies, in relation to the growing insecurity of the borders. The soldiers of the fleet were also in charge of the surveillance of cities armories and of the gladiators barracks. Senior naval officers (i.e. the praefectus classis and the subpraefectus classis) carried out juridical functions, assisted by their non-commissioned officers.

В статье рассматривается проблема использования преторианцами так называемого псевдо-аттического шлема в I – II вв. В результате анализа изобразительных источников и археологических свидетельств нами был сделан вывод о том, что псевдо-аттический шлем не являлся лишь частью иконографического канона и входил в более широкую группу шлемов с налобным фронтоном. Он использовался в первую очередь офицерами и всадниками, возможно, являясь частью «парадного комплекта».

Lo studio si propone di analizzare la presenza e il ruolo di soldati e veterani delle milizie urbane nelle società di Pannonia, Mesia e Dacia. L'indagine verrà condotta principalmente sulle epigrafi di pretoriani, urbaniciani ed equites singulares Augusti attestati nell'area in esame; ma non si trascureranno le fonti letterarie, indispensabili nel mostrare i movimenti degli eserciti e degli imperatori, dei quali le truppe urbane costituivano la scorta, nella zona considerata. Si metteranno in evidenza soprattutto le motivazioni della presenza di questi soldati e veterani in Pannonia, Mesia e Dacia, il loro rapporto con le società civili e l'estrazione etnica e sociale delle reclute. La documentazione, non molto numerosa nel I e II secolo d.C., diventa molto più cospicua nel III secolo d.C., quando, dopo la riforma di Settimio Severo, i pretoriani erano reclutati soprattutto nelle province danubiane e spesso ritornavano in patria dopo aver ottenuto l'honesta missio.

Documento che si propone di indagare i più importanti incarichi della prefettura del pretorio tra la fine del II e la prima metà del III secolo. Questo lavoro nasce come estensione e revisione del paragrafo IV.II – I compiti della prefettura nel III secolo, contenuto all'interno della tesi di laurea magistrale: «Plauziano, Timesiteo e le evoluzioni della prefettura del pretorio nel III secolo» scritta da me, Giacomo Contratto.

Training and discipline are the most important aspects of military life and the keys
to the success of any army, ancient or contemporary. This paper aims to provide a better
understanding of the processes that took place within Castra praetoria’s training ground
beginning with the moment of recruitment of new soldiers and the specialized drill officers
within the Praetorian Guard, following their epigraphic testimonies.

El artículo analiza el desarrollo de la figura del Prefecto del Pretorio, que desde sus comienzos fue una de las más importantes dentro de las instituciones de estado romanas, pero que con la llegada de los cambios políticos después de la muerte de Marco Aurelio, aumentó su protagonismo hasta el punto de gozar de más poder en ocasiones que el mismo emperador. La coyuntura inestable y las fuertes prerrogativas de las que gozaba convirtieron a ese alto funcionario, mitad militar y mitad burócrata, en un personaje clave dentro de las intrigas políticas romanas, que desde su posición inigualable fue capaz a menudo de eliminar al emperador mediante una conspiración para ocupar su lugar. La situación se hizo tan grave llegado el siglo iv que Constantino decidió retirarle el mando de tropas y las funciones militares, convirtiendo al Prefecto del Pretorio en un juez supremo y organizador del suministro.

Alcuni riferimenti presenti nelle fonti antiche mostrano come in particolari occasioni di servizio i pretoriani non indossassero la veste militare ma la toga civile. Tuttavia, i moderni studiosi non sono sempre concordi per quanto riguarda le circostanze dell'uso di questo abito ed anzi una tesi recente ha negato che i pretoriani potessero indossarlo. Il presente contributo analizza sia le fonti antiche relative al problema sia la loro interpretazione da parte degli studiosi moderni, proponendo una nuova ipotesi circa questo particolare aspetto della storia delle coorti pretorie.

Гражданская война 68–69 гг., вошедшая в историографию как «год четырех императоров», показала, по выражению Тацита, «imperii arcano» – принцепсом можно было стать не только в Риме. Если на первом этапе междоусобицы основной силой была преторианская гвардия, то после апреля 69 г. судьбу Империи определяли легионы. Статья посвящена самому началу «долгого 69 года» – событиям, связанным с деятельностью Нимфидия Сабина. Он был командиром преторианской гвардии в должности префекта претория с 65 по 68 г. Почти ничего не известно о его карьере до префектуры. Античная традиция зафиксировала причастность Сабина к двум заговорам: против Нерона и Гальбы. На основании трудов Иосифа Флавия, Публия Корнелия Тацита, Плутарха, Гая Светония Транквилла и Кассия Диона в статье сделан вывод о том, что Нимфидий сыграл решающую роль в свержении Нерона, но не был причастен к «заговору» против Гальбы.

Among the many symbols and representations of imperial power in ancient Rome, the presence of armed guards is an obviously striking element, both visually and symbolically. In contrast to aspects such as their organisation or political influence, little, indeed almost no attention at all has been paid to their ceremonial role.
Guard units served to underscore and visually represent imperial authority and through their participation in court ceremonial, Guards were a reflection of imperial rule and could be employed by emperors to project specific symbolic messages or even political programmes.

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The presence of hispani soldiers in the ranks of Praetorian cohorts has scarcely
been studied. In this work, we have attempted to present a general idea of what the soldiers from Hispania who served in praetorium were like. To do this we have consulted information regarding hispani praetorians up through the present, including epigraphic, literary, and other sources that shed light on Praetorian cohorts in connection with the Iberian Peninsula in general.

The career of the praetorian prefect Plautianus might initially appear to form a typical literary topos in which a meteoric rise precedes an ignominious downfall. Analysis of the limited literary evidence for the praefecti during the imperial period shows that they cannot be grouped so easily. It is noteworthy, then, that Dio ends his account of the life of Sejanus by claiming that he had exercised greater power as prefect than any other individual, with the solitary exception of Plautianus. While the senator implicates Caracalla as the architect of Plautianus’ downfall, the reference to Plautianus suggests that a direct comparison between the two prefects was intended. This paper will explore why Dio might have drawn such parallels, considering specifically whether this couplet should be seen as one in a larger pattern, or something unique. In addition to improving our understanding of Dio’s methodology concerning the Severan period, this will also potentially alter our perception of Sejanus’ downfall, for which, in the absence of a Tacitean account, scholars are reliant on Dio’s prose.

В настоящей статье проанализировали методы и результаты рецепции преторианской гвардии в кинематографе. Для этой цели был отобран ряд фильмов жанра «пеплум», раскрывающий на экране историю Римской империи в I-IV вв. н.э. В результате проведённого анализ был сделан вывод, что в кинематографе, несмотря на попытки трансформации, сохраняется стереотипный образ преторианцев и их командиров, используемый для критики Империи и власти в рамках конфликта государственного и личностного.

The article concerns the methods and results of the reception of the Praetorian guard in the cinematograph. a number of films of the "peplum" genre, that clarify on the screen the history of the Roman Empire in the I-IV centuries AD have been chosen for that purpose. We conclude, that in the cinema, despite attempts to transform, the stereotypical image of the Praetorians and their commanders, used to criticize the Empire and power in the context of a conflict between the state and personal.

HR, 10000 Zagreb Filozofski fakultet u Zagrebu Odsjek za arheologiju Ivana Lučića 3 U članku se obrađuju vojnici salonitanskoga podrijetla čija su imena zabilježena na epigrafskim spomenicima pronađenim u gradu Rimu i Saloni. Služili su u pretorijanskim kohortama u Rimu, a dosad su evidentirana petorica. Na četirima spomenicima iz Rima spominje se njihov domicil Salona, dok je jednome vojniku domicil Salona pretpostavljen prema mjestu nalaza i prema podatku da mu je spomenik podigla majka. U pretorijanskoj su vojsci obnašali dužnosti od običnoga vojnika preko spekulatora do konjanika i centuriona, a potvrđen je i jedan veteran. Iako je najviše dalmatinskih pretorijanaca bilo s područja Liburnije, pojedinačno gledano najveći broj ih je iz Salone. Veća prisutnost Dalmatinaca među pretorijancima epigrafski se prati od 2. stoljeća, što se možda može povezati s Kvintom Marcijem Turbonom, Dalmatincem iz Epidaura, koji je u prvoj polovini 2. stoljeća stajao na čelu pretorijanaca gotovo 20 godina.

In AD 205, the praetorian prefect Plautianus was murdered in the imperial palace. The ancient sources, Dio and Herodian, tell of a plot, though they offer different versions as to who was behind it and who the target. This article will consider both accounts as well as numismatic and epigraphic evidence in an attempt to provide a new interpretation for this event.

Si había una ciudad en la Antigüedad que albergaba todos los placeres, lujos y diversiones que la humanidad pudo crear hasta ese momento, sin duda era Roma. Como todas las grandes urbes tenía su lado oscuro, sin duda, pero para un soldado prestigioso, cercano al emperador, privilegiado y con su bolsa siempre llena las posibilidades eran inimaginables para disfrutar de todo ello sin esforzarse demasiado.
No importaban tus preferencias, ya fuera el juego, los espectáculos, las mujeres (o los hombres), la bebida o lo más de lo que pudieran imaginar. Comerciantes, proxenetas, taberneros todos sabían que los pretorianos eran bien recompensados por su labor y podían convertirse en sus mejores clientes, ofreciéndoles todo tipo de servicios. Calles atestadas de tiendas y negocios al aire libre podían ofrecerles casi cualquier cosa, desde esclavos o armas realizadas por los mejores artesanos hasta productos de uso diario. La delincuencia habitual que pugnaba por todas partes no les inquietaba.

Imperio romano. Dos palabras que evocan poder y leyenda como pocas, encarnadas en la figura del emperador. Pocos han atesorado una influencia tal en la historia de la humanidad y con ella, una envidia aun mayor si cabe. Los pretorianos nacieron como la unidad de elite del ejército romano dedicada exclusivamente a proteger su vida y la de sus seres queridos. Antes incluso de que el primer emperador, Augusto, acabara con la república, los pretorianos ya defendieron con sus vidas a personajes como Marco Antonio y otros muchos. Su verdadera historia ha permanecido tradicionalmente distorsionada tras el crítico velo tejido con esmero por muchos autores clásicos. Ellos eran el escudo y espada del emperador como su guardia personal.

Мы попытались охарактеризовать кризис в Римской империи в конце 60-х гг. н.э., конкретизировав понятие «военный мятеж». Нами был проведен анализ процесса транзита власти в 68-69 гг. с точки зрения участия римской армии. Мы пришли к выводу, что гражданская война, во время которой войска провозглашали и возводили на престол императоров, и была основой кризиса в Римской империи. We tried to characterize the crisis in the Roman Empire in the late 60s AD concretizing the concept of «mutiny». We have analyzed the process of transit of potestas in 68-69 years in terms of participation of the Roman army. We concluded that the civil war during which the troops proclaimed emperors to the throne, was the basis for the crisis in the Roman Empire.
Ключевые слова: военный мятеж, год четырех императоров, Гальба, Отон, Вителлий, Веспасиан, легионы, преторианская гвардия, ауксилии.

In this article we have attempted to present a general idea of the use of a weapon that is not usually associated with Praetorian soldiers, showing how changes of the times forced these soldiers to adapt. To do this we have consulted epigraphic and literary sources. Having done so, we can assert without any doubt the employment of this weapon in the praetorium throughout the 3rd century AD as a result of adaptation to new battle techniques in the face of old and new enemies.

The career of the praetorian prefect Plautianus might initially appear to form a typical literary topos in which a meteoric rise to power precedes an ignominious downfall. Analysis of the limited literary evidence for the praefecti during the imperial period shows that they cannot be grouped so easily, however, and that this description is atypical.

It is noteworthy, then, that Dio ends his account of the life of Sejanus by claiming that he had exercised greater power as prefect than any other individual, with the solitary exception of Plautianus. While the senator implicates Caracalla as the architect of Plautianus’ downfall, his dislike for the emperor being well-known, the reference to Plautianus at the end of the earlier episode suggests that a direct comparison between the two prefects was intended.

If Dio’s accounts of Plautianus and Sejanus are compared, clear similarities between the two narratives emerge. Both men experience incredible influence with the emperor in the aftermath of assuming sole command of the praetorians, both are given a multitude of honours, and both suffer catastrophic downfalls, following a range of bad omens and prodigies. This paper will explore why Dio might have drawn such parallels, considering specifically whether this couplet should be seen as one in a larger pattern, or something truly unique. In addition to improving our understanding of Dio’s methodology when writing about the Severan period, this will also potentially alter our perception of Sejanus’ downfall, for which, in the absence of a Tacitean account, scholars are reliant on Dio’s prose.

Данное исследование является попыткой реконструкции одного из транзитов власти в период гражданской войны 68-69 гг. В статье рассматривается деятельность командующего легионами в Верхней Германии Луция Вергиния Руфа во время восстания Юлия Виндекса весной 68 г. Сделана попытка вы-явить цели, которыми руководствовался Вергиний Руф, выстраивая отношения с Гальбой, Виндексом, Нероном и верхнегерманскими войсками.
This study is an attempt to reconstruct one of the transit of the power during the Civil war of 68-69. The article we consider the activities of Lucius Verginius Rufus, commander of legions in Upper Germany, during the Revolt of Julius Vindex in the spring of 68. An attempt was made to reveal the aims, which Verginius Rufus was conformed, forming relationships with Galba, Vindex, Nero.

De la nada, hasta la cúspide del poder. A día de hoy, las películas nos muestran a los pretorianos como unos guerreros de élite encargados de proteger a los grandes dignatarios de sus enemigos. Llevan razón a medias. O más bien se olvidan del origen de estos combatientes. Y es que, durante la República no eran más que una pequeña escolta dedicada a la salvaguarda de un líder de medio pelo. Sin embargo, todo cambió con la llegada con una reforma motivada por el primer emperador de Roma,César Augusto. Fue este personaje quien moldeó (allá por el año 27 a.C.) un nuevo cuerpo permanente formado por un mínimo de 4.500 hombres al que encomendó su vida. Así nació la Guardia Pretoriana que todos conocemos en la actualidad.