Summary of Guy de la Bédoyère's Praetorian

By IRB Media

Please note: This is a companion version & not the original book. Book Preview:

#1 After the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, Octavian rose to power. He used military force to defeat the tyrannicides Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, and then eliminated his erstwhile allies, among them Mark Antony.

#2 The Roman Empire used the term cohors praetoria to describe a group of soldiers who were selected from the bravest. They were exempt from soldiers’ normal duties and received one and a half-time pay, but were not distinguished in battle.

#3 The term praetorian was applied to soldiers serving a governor on his staff, or specialist crack troops. It was not used to describe the governor’s personal staff, but rather the garrison of Epiphanea in Cilicia.

#4 The term praetorian cohort was well established by 44 BC, and it was used to describe the bodyguard that Octavian created for himself. It was made up of Caesar’s veterans who were settled in Campania.

• Language: English
• Publisher: IRB Media
• Release date: Jun 15, 2022
• ISBN: 9798822543010

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Insights on Guy de la Bédoyère's Praetorian

Contents

Insights from Chapter 1

Insights from Chapter 2

Insights from Chapter 3

Insights from Chapter 4

Insights from Chapter 5

Insights from Chapter 6

Insights from Chapter 7

Insights from Chapter 8

Insights from Chapter 9

Insights from Chapter 10

Insights from Chapter 1

#1

After the murder of Julius Caesar in 44 BC, Octavian rose to power. He used military force to defeat the tyrannicides Marcus Junius Brutus and Gaius Cassius Longinus, and then eliminated his erstwhile allies, among them Mark Antony.

#2

The Roman Empire used the term cohors praetoria to describe a group of soldiers who were selected from the bravest. They were exempt from soldiers’ normal duties and received one and a half-time pay, but were not distinguished in battle.

#3

The term praetorian was applied to soldiers serving a governor on his staff, or specialist crack troops. It was not used to describe the governor’s personal staff, but rather the garrison of Epiphanea in Cilicia.

#4

The term praetorian cohort was well established by 44 BC, and it was used to describe the bodyguard that Octavian created for himself. It was made up of Caesar’s veterans who were settled in Campania.

#5

The existence of the praetorian guards created a lot of tension between Octavian and Antony. Octavian was able to buy the guards’ loyalty by offering them more money, but he had dangerously miscalculated.

#6

The Battle of Forum Gallorum, in which Octavian fought against Antony’s praetorians, was a disaster for the inexperienced Octavian. His praetorians were completely wiped out by Antony’s, while the rival legionary forces fought their own battle. Many of the legionaries in the consular army deserted and went over to Octavian.

#7

The Battle of Mutina marked the end of the Roman Republic and the beginning of the Roman Empire. It was also the start of the triumvirate between Octavian, Mark Antony, and Lepidus, who were legally appointed triumvirs and in charge of protecting the Roman world.

#8

The Battle of Philippi in 42 BC, which ended the ambitions of Caesar’s assassins, was a monumental turning point in Roman history. It is inconceivable that the praetorian cohorts of each of the triumvirs and their associates were not present.

#9

The coin is likely to belong to after 27 BC, when the city was renamed Colonia Augusta Julia Philippensis in recognition of the name Augustus, which he was awarded that year. The coin refers to the settlement of praetorian veterans there.

#10

The Roman legions were the mainstay of the Roman army, but the praetorians were used to keep experienced soldiers who might otherwise be tempted to retire after serving their period of service. The extra wages were