The Praetorian Guard: Rise to Power
The Ancients20 Huhti 2025

The Praetorian Guard: Rise to Power

From Gladiator to Rome Total War to I, Claudius, today the Cohortēs praetōriae are one of the most distinctive military units of Imperial Rome. It was their job to protect the Roman Emperor and his household, a task for which they hold a somewhat ‘chequered’ record (especially when we focus in on the Praetorian Prefects). But what do we know about this unit’s origins? How did this powerful force become protectors of the Emperor and his household? What other functions did they serve? And how did they differ from the standard Roman legions in their structure?


To talk through the rise of the Praetorian Guard, with a specific focus on the reigns of Augustus and Tiberius, Tristan caught up with historian Lindsay Powell at Fishbourne Roman Palace in West Sussex. Lindsay is the author of several books about the Early Roman Imperial Period. His latest book, Bar Kokhba: The Jew Who Defied Hadrian and Challenged the Might of Rome, is out now.


Presented by Tristan Hughes. The producer is Joseph Knight. The senior producer is Anne-Marie Luff.


The Ancients is a History Hit podcast.


All music from Epidemic Sounds


Sign up to History Hit for hundreds of hours of original documentaries, with a new release every week and ad-free podcasts. Sign up at https://www.historyhit.com/subscribe.


You can take part in our listener survey here.


This episode first aired in October 2021.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jaksot(606)

The Queen of Sheba

The Queen of Sheba

A figure of wealth, wisdom, and global fascination - how did the Queen of Sheba become one of history’s most enduring royal icons?In this episode, Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr Jillian Stinchcomb to ...

13 Heinä 202552min

Doggerland: The North Sea Atlantis?

Doggerland: The North Sea Atlantis?

Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. Rachel Bynoe who has literally dived into the enigmatic world of Doggerland, a prehistoric landmass now submerged beneath the North Sea.They discuss how archaeological ...

10 Heinä 202547min

Hannibal's March on Rome

Hannibal's March on Rome

It was perhaps Hannibal’s greatest gamble — after years of victories, not least his famed trek across the snow-capped Alps, could he strike at Rome itself?In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hugh...

6 Heinä 202555min

Plato's Republic

Plato's Republic

Today we journey into the creation of Plato's Republic. Tristan Hughes is joined by Dr. James Romm to discover how Plato's encounters with the tyrant-ruled city of Syracuse and its rulers, Dionysius t...

3 Heinä 202555min

The Apocryphal Gospels

The Apocryphal Gospels

If you've heard of the mysterious and often controversial Apocryphal Gospels, you may have been told that they weren't important, or useful; that they 'didn't make the cut' to be included in the Canon...

29 Kesä 202538min

Seahenge

Seahenge

As a 4,000-year-old timber circle uncovered on a Norfolk beach, Seahenge is one of Britain’s most remarkable prehistoric finds. Discovered in 1998, it drew quick comparison as a 'Stonehenge by the sea...

26 Kesä 202545min

Rise of Nero

Rise of Nero

Before he became one of Rome’s most infamous tyrants, Nero was a golden boy - young, talented, and full of promise.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is joined by bestselling author Conn ...

22 Kesä 20251h 7min

Pirates of the Mediterranean

Pirates of the Mediterranean

As Rome rose to power, pirates seized the seas - wreaking havoc from Spain to Syria and challenging Roman dominance in the ancient Mediterranean.In this episode of The Ancients, Tristan Hughes is join...

19 Kesä 20251h 3min

Suosittua kategoriassa Historia

olipa-kerran-otsikko
gogin-ja-janin-maailmanhistoria
mayday-fi
huijarit
mystista
totuus-vai-salaliitto
rss-ikiuni
tsunami
konginkangas
rouva-diktaattori
rss-i-dont-like-mondays-2
rss-peter-peter
rss-sattuu-sita-suomessakin
rss-kirkon-ihmeellisimmat-tarinat
rss-kalmakabinetti
sotaa-ja-historiaa-podi
apinan-vuosi
tiedetta-ja-sirkushuveja-vanhojen-aikojen-podcast
maailmanpuu
rss-subjektiivinen-todistaja