Making and Breaking Emperors
The cohors praetoria and the Transition of Imperial Power
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 20079022 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Gwynaeth McIntyre (0000-0001-7142-0190, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2022 |
| Pages | 202-222 |
| Publication date | 2022-12-06 |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | CHAPTER |
| Venue | Brill’s Companion to Bodyguards in the Ancient Mediterranean (SOURCE_BOOK) |
| Publisher | Brill (PUBLISHER • NL) |
| DOI | 10.1163/9789004527683_011 |
| OpenAlex | W4381469015 |
| ISBN | 9789004527683 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 2 |
The assassination of Caligula during the Palatine games served as a turning point for the creation of an emperor. The two previous transitions of power (from Augustus to Tiberius to Caligula) were based, at least in part, on the decisions by the deceased emperor himself through his will or his actions during his lifetime. However, following the assassination of Caligula, it was the cohors praetoria who acclaimed Claudius as emperor and pressured the Senate into ratifying their decision. This act showed the true power of the Praetorians and their ability to influence politics in Rome. But the question arises as to why the Praetorians even had this kind of power and why the Senate had to ultimately bow to their decision. This chapter explores both the literary narratives surrounding Claudius’ accession and his coin types minted (which are to some extent influenced by Caligula’s earlier ADLOCT(io) COH(ortium) coin type) in order to examine the manner by which the cohors praetoria came to exert total control over Rome’s political landscape. It analyses their apparent ability to name their chosen candidate as emperor and the ways in which emperors promoted their own relationship with the Praetorians. As Caligula would learn (the hard way), it was best to ensure that one stayed on the good side of one’s bodyguard. In fact, over the course of the next three centuries, at least fifteen individuals either were made emperor or were killed by the cohors praetoria (or both in some cases). Through their proximity and access to the emperor himself, it is clear that the Praetorians played a more important role in imperial succession and the development of the Roman monarchy than has been previously discussed
Ancient history · Emperor · Political science · Politics · Classical Antiquity Studies · Classical Studies and Legal History · Historical and Religious Studies of Rome · History · Law
| Citations per year | 2 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2025 - 2026 (2) |
| Highly cited | No |