Coyote Cody Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 I remember hearing from a few places that the Praetorians were of Germanic decent, at least at certain times in their history. I was doing research recentally and I can't find anywhere that says anything about the Praetorians being Germanic or Roman or anything. Does anyone know about this for sure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Favonius Cornelius Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 The Emperor's personal body guard, which I think was a separate group than the Praetorian Guard even, was all German. For the Praetorian Guard, it's composition depended on the Emperor. If the Emperor was placed on the throne by Pannonian legions, then you can be sure his Praetorian Guard was composed of them or at least had an infusion of them when he gained the purple. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Primus Pilus Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 The Emperor's personal body guard, which I think was a separate group than the Praetorian Guard even, was all German. For the Praetorian Guard, it's composition depended on the Emperor. If the Emperor was placed on the throne by Pannonian legions, then you can be sure his Praetorian Guard was composed of them or at least had an infusion of them when he gained the purple. Additionally there is sometimes confusion on the idea that the guard itself was Germanic because Vitellius and later Septimius Severus recruited the guard completely from the legions serving the borders of Germania (usually indicated as German Legions). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sullafelix Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 was this just for loyalties sake, because they looked fetching with their big handlebar moustaches or because of a tradition?I seem to remember something about the tradition of a Gallic bodyguard going back to Augustus (or is that Horsecr*p?) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted March 12, 2006 Report Share Posted March 12, 2006 The germans were big lads generally. The average height for a roman was around 5'4" to 5'6", whereas the better diet of barbarian celts gave them heights more akin to what we see today. It stands to reason that germans were recruited into the praetorians, especially later as the supply of germanic soldiers increased. Given the way they recruited them though there would always have been non-germans involved, particularly the officers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coyote Cody Posted March 13, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2006 I guess that makes sence that you would want to recrute troops who were big so that your personal guards were intimidating while you still had Romans lead since they understood the Roman ways. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldrail Posted March 14, 2006 Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 It is true that at least one emperor had a personal guard of german troops - are you confusing the praetorians with them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Coyote Cody Posted March 14, 2006 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2006 That might be it, as I said I remembered hearing something about the Praetorians being Germanic so it might just be that I got that confused or what I heard was wrong. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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