Definition: During the late Republic Roman generals had a body guard or cohort called the praetorian guard. The praetorian guard became the military unit that served as the emperor's body guard. They gradually gained enough power to affect the succession of the Roman emperor. The person or persons in charge of the praetorian guard was the praetorian prefect (praefectus praetorio).
Source: "Encyclopedic Dictionary of Roman Law," by Adolf Berger. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, New Ser., Vol. 43, No. 2. (1953), pp. 333-809.
Go to Other Ancient / Classical History Glossary pages beginning with the letter
a | b | c | d | e | f | g | h | i | j | k | l | m | n | o | p | q | r | s | t | u | v | wxyzAlso Known As: Cohors praetoria
