Praetorian : : the Rise and Fall of Rome's Imperial Bodyguard
Book - 2017 356.16 De 1 On Shelf No requests on this item
Sign in to request
Locations
Call Number: 356.16 De
On Shelf At: Downtown Library
Location & Checkout Length | Call Number | Checkout Length | Item Status |
---|---|---|---|
Downtown 2nd Floor 4-week checkout |
356.16 De | 4-week checkout | On Shelf |
"Founded by Augustus around 27 B.C., the elite Praetorian Guard was tasked with the protection of the emperor and his family. As the centuries unfolded, however, Praetorian soldiers served not only as protectors and enforcers but also as powerful political players. Fiercely loyal to some emperors, they vied with others and ruthlessly toppled those who displeased them, including Caligula, Nero, Pertinax, and many more. Guy de la Bedoyere provides a compelling first full narrative history of the Praetorians, whose dangerous ambitions ceased only when Constantine permanently disbanded them. de la Bedoyere introduces Praetorians of all echelons, from prefects and messengers to artillery experts and executioners. He explores the delicate position of emperors for whom prestige and guile were the only defenses against bodyguards hungry for power. Folding fascinating details into a broad assessment of the Praetorian era, the author sheds new light on the wielding of power in the greatest of the ancient world's empires"-- Provided by publisher.
REVIEWS & SUMMARIES
CHOICE ReviewSummary / Annotation
Table of Contents
Author Notes
COMMUNITY REVIEWS
No community reviews. Write one below!
PUBLISHED
London : Yale University Press, [2017]
Year Published: 2017
Description: vii, 336 pages, 16 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations ; 25 cm.
Language: English
Format: Book
ISBN/STANDARD NUMBER
9780300218954
0300218958
SUBJECTS
Praetorian Guard -- History.
Special forces (Military science) -- Rome -- History.
Rome -- History.
Rome -- History -- Empire, 30 B.C.-476 A.D.