Illustrated Companion to the Latin Dictionary/Praetoriani

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Rich, Anthony (1849). The illustrated companion to the Latin dictionary, and Greek lexicon. p. vi. OCLC 894670115. https://archive.org/details/illustratedcompa00rich. 

PRAETORIA'NI. The praetorian guards, a standing body of troops created by Augustus as a bodyguard, in imitation of the more ancient praetorian cohort (cohors praetoria), and continued under the succeeding emperors until the time of Constantine, by whom they were suppressed, and their stationary camp at Rome broken up. (Tac. Hist. ii. 44. Plin. H. N. vi. 35. Aurel. Vict. Caes. 40.) Although the arms and accoutrements of these troops cannot be declared with positive assurance, yet there are good grounds for believing that the annexed figure (Praetoriani/1.1) from the column of Trajan represents a soldier of the corps in question; because soldiers equipped in the same manner are commonly seen on the columns and triumphal arches in immediate attendance on the emperor's person; or forming parties sent out to reconnoitre the country and movements of the enemy, which was one of the duties appertaining to these guards, as may be inferred from Suetonius (Tib. 60.); and they are never represented as performing any of the ordinary labours of the legionary soldiers, such as digging trenches, felling timber, making fortifications, &c.

2. Equites praetoriani. The cavalry which formed part of the praetorian guard. (Suet. Cal. 45. Id. Claud. 21.) The illustration (Praetoriani/2.1) is copied from the column of Trajan; and it will be observed that the character of the body armour as well as the form and device of the shield, resembles in every respect those of the preceding figure, thus constituting an additional ground for the belief that both these men were intended for praetorians.

• 
  Praetoriani/1.1
• 
  Praetoriani/2.1