PRAETŌRĬĀNI, sc. _milites_, or _praetoriae cohortes_, a body of
troops instituted by Augustus to protect his person and his power,
and called by that name in imitation of the _praetoria cohors_, or
select troops which attended the person of the praetor or general of
the Roman army. They originally consisted of nine or ten cohorts,
each comprising a thousand men, horse and foot. Augustus, in
accordance with his general policy of avoiding the appearance of
despotism, stationed only three of these cohorts in the capital, and
dispersed the remainder in the adjacent towns of Italy. Tiberius,
however, under pretence of introducing a stricter discipline among
them, assembled them all at Rome in a permanent camp, which was
strongly fortified. Their number was increased by Vitellius to
sixteen cohorts, or 16,000 men. The praetorians were distinguished
by double pay and especial privileges. Their term of service was
originally fixed by Augustus at twelve years, but was afterwards
increased to sixteen years; and when they had served their time, each
soldier received 20,000 sesterces. They soon became the most powerful
body in the state, and, like the janissaries at Constantinople,
frequently deposed and elevated emperors according to their pleasure.
Even the most powerful of the emperors were obliged to court their
favour; and they always obtained a liberal donation upon the
accession of each sovereign. After the death of Pertinax (A.D. 193)
they even offered the empire for sale, which was purchased by Didius
Julianus; but upon the accession of Severus in the same year they
were disbanded, on account of the part they had taken in the death
of Pertinax, and banished from the city. The emperors, however,
could not dispense with guards, and accordingly the praetorians were
restored on a new model by Severus, and increased to four times their
ancient number. Diocletian reduced their numbers and abolished their
privileges; they were still allowed to remain at Rome, but had no
longer the guard of the emperor’s person, as he never resided in the
capital. Their numbers were again increased by Maxentius; but after
his defeat by Constantine, A.D. 312, they were entirely suppressed
by the latter, their fortified camp destroyed, and those who had
not perished in the battle between Constantine and Maxentius were
dispersed among the legions. The commander of the praetorians was
called PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO.
PRAETŌRĬUM, the name of the general’s tent in the camp, and so
called because the name of the chief Roman magistrate was originally
praetor, and not consul. [CASTRA.] The officers who attended on the
general in the _praetorium_, and formed his council of war, were
called by the same name. The word was also used in several other
significations, which were derived from the original one. Thus the
residence of a governor of a province was called the _praetorium_;
and the same name was also given to any large house or palace. The
camp of the praetorian troops at Rome, and frequently the praetorian
troops themselves, were called by this name. [PRAETORIANI.]