The Roman Empire was initially ruled by military leaders, politicians, and a Senate. However, Augustus Caesar became the first emperor and shifted power towards a titular ruler. The emperor had a Praetorian Guard for protection, but corruption led to its dissolution. The Guard was comparable to modern-day Swiss Guard or French Musketeers.
The ancient Roman Empire was not always ruled by an all-powerful emperor, but power was divided between prominent military leaders, ambitious politicians, and a Legislative Senate based on Greek political ideals. Once Augustus Caesar assumed the title and power of emperor or emperor, however, the hierarchy of power shifted towards a titular ruler who controlled both the military and the Senate, as much as was possible during those turbulent and violent times.
The emperor also had a more militaristic title of praetor, just as a modern president is also considered a commander-in-chief. Since the praetor was a constant target of both foreign and domestic political and military opportunists, an elite group of experienced soldiers were conscripted to form a Praetorian Guard. The first and only loyalty of the Guard was to the praetor who held power at the time.
Under the protection of units of the Praetorian Guard, the emperor was free to walk the halls of the Senate or the streets of Rome with little fear of assassination or violent confrontation. If the emperor wanted to visit a distant battle site, a large body of guard was automatically dispatched. While individual Praetorian Guards were still considered well-placed soldiers, they were generally spared front-line combat duties while in the praetor’s service.
As the Roman Empire began to crumble, however, a number of the Praetorian Guard began to flex their political muscles. Strict loyalty to the emperor became a secondary concern as members of the guard pursued their own political ambitions or fueled the political “machines” that sought the overthrow of the current empirical ruler. Corruption became rampant, prompting at least one emperor, Constantine, to order its complete dissolution.
Members of the Praetorian Guard during the height of the Roman Empire might best be compared to the modern day Swiss Guard who protect the Pope or the legendary French Musketeers who swore their undying loyalty to the French king. The Praetorian Guard could perform routine protective duties in the emperor’s private quarters one day, then quell a civil uprising or reinforce a besieged regular army outpost the next.
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