Praetorian Guard at the Court of the Roman Emperor: Ceremony of the Salutatio, Imperial Convivium and Entertainment of the Princeps
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.52575/2687-0967-2024-51-1-34-43Keywords:
Roman imperial court, court society, Praetorian Guard, salutation ceremony, imperial conviviumAbstract
The article is devoted to the problem of the participation of the Praetorian Guard in the life of the imperial court and its ceremonial practices. It has been noted that the Praetorians played an important symbolic role in the state dynastic ceremonies of Rome. Actually, the guards served as a reminder to the aristocracy of the military force and supreme power of the emperor. However, this point could not be applied to the domestic ceremonies of the imperial court. Essentially, regularly greeting the princeps and attending his feasts, the Praetorians turned from just bodyguards into courtiers. Military strength of these new courtiers allowed them to become almost equal to the senatorial class in the relationship with the emperor. Although this strength often served the personal interests of the guards as a special status group at the court, it was not directed against the aristocracy. Moreover, due to the innovations of Claudius, the officer corps of the guards was gradually mixed with the aristocracy into a single circle of court society.
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