Praetorian Guard facts

While investigating facts about Praetorian Guard Star Wars and Praetorian Guard 40k, I found out little known, but curios details like:

The Roman Empire was once sold at auction by the Praetorian Guard, who had just killed the previous emperor

how many praetorian guards were there?

In 193 AD, Rome's elite Praetorian Guard murdered the sitting Emperor and then auctioned off the role to the highest bidder.

What did the praetorian guard wear?

In my opinion, it is useful to put together a list of the most interesting details from trusted sources that I've come across answering what did the praetorian guard do. Here are 12 of the best facts about Praetorian Guard Rome and Praetorian Guard Definition I managed to collect.

what does praetorian guard mean?

1. Augustus created the Praetorian Guard - originally as a bodyguard detail. It grew to guard the Italian Peninsula and maintain peace in Rome.

2. The first Roman emperors were more closely guarded by German barbarians than the more famous Praetorians. The Germans were favored because they had no political connections or ties to Rome.

3. The Roman Empire fell in a large part due to the corruption of the Praetorian Guard who initiated the practice of selling the throne to the highest bidder (often killing the emperor themselves)

4. After the Praetorian Guard assasinated Caesar Pertinax in 193 AD, they auctioned off the office of Roman Emperor to the highest bidder

5. Didius Julianus became the Roman Emperor by buying the throne at a public auction from the Praetorian Guard, who had assassinated Julianus' predecessor Pertinax.

6. 13 Caesars were murdered by their own Praetorian Guard.

7. The Praetorian Guard once killed a Roman emperor so that they could auction off the throne for money.

8. The Praetorian Guard numbered 9,000 - 10,000 soldiers. All of these elite troops were primarily tasked with protecting the Roman Emperor.

9. Cassius Chaerea, a member of the Praetorian Guard of the Roman Emperor Caligula, betrayed and assassinated Caligula. Cassius Chaerea is Jaime Lannister.