No other special force in history has a mystique equal to that of ancient Rome's thoroughbred protection and counter-insurgency squadron--the renowned Praetorian Guard. Originally conceived as a personal army for the emperor, the Guard assumed a much greater role than simple bodyguard, taking over a wide range of powers in the city and operating for more than 300 years. Inseparable from the machinery of the Roman state, the Praetorians had the power to make or break individual emperors.

InThe Praetorian Guard, Sandra Bingham offers a comprehensive and timely history of this elite military unit, from its foundation by Augustus in 27 BCE to its disbandment by Constantine in 312 CE. Exploring the multifaceted nature of the Guard, she discusses and describes its arms and insignia, size and recruitment tactics, and command structure and individual duties, as well as Guard members' family and religious lives. Bingham provides readers with a unique view of how others in antiquity portrayed these special forces and includes detailed illustrations, maps, and plans to paint a clear picture of this politically mighty military institution.

历史上没有任何一支特种部队的神秘感能与古罗马的纯种保护和反叛乱中队--著名的禁卫军相提并论。禁卫军最初被认为是皇帝的私人军队，但它承担了比简单的保镖更大的作用，接管了城市中广泛的权力并运作了300多年。禁卫军与罗马国家的机器密不可分，他们有能力成就或摧毁各个皇帝。

在《禁卫军》中，桑德拉-宾汉姆为这支精英军事部队提供了一部全面而及时的历史，从公元前27年奥古斯都创建到公元312年康斯坦丁解散。她探讨了卫队的多面性，讨论并描述了其武器和徽章、规模和招募策略、指挥结构和个人职责，以及卫队成员的家庭和宗教生活。宾汉姆为读者提供了一个独特的视角，让他们了解古代其他人是如何描绘这些特种部队的，并包括详细的插图、地图和计划，以描绘出这个政治上强大的军事机构的清晰画面。