Praetorian Guard - Legacy

Legacy

Although its name has become synonymous with intrigue, conspiracy, disloyalty and assassination, it could be argued that for the first two centuries of its existence the Praetorian Guard was generally very much a positive force within the Roman state. During this time it mostly removed (or allowed the removal of) cruel, weak, and unpopular emperors while supporting just, strong, and popular ones. By protecting these monarchs, thereby extending their reigns, and also by keeping the disorders of the Roman mobs and the intrigues of the Senate in line, the Guard helped to give the empire a much-needed source of stability that contributed to the period known as the Pax Romana.

It was only after the reign of Marcus Aurelius, when this period is considered to have ended, that the guard began to deteriorate into the meddling force of ruthless mercenaries for which it has now become infamous. However, in this regard it was not alone; under the Severan dynasty, and afterwards during the Crisis of the Third Century the legions, the Senate, and the emperorship along with the rest of the Roman state began to fall into decline and inefficiency as well.