03-17-2007, 08:57 PM
So I've been studying Rome professionally for well... it's gotta be something like 15 years now. Military affairs are not my specialty -- Roman sex and gender are -- so I'm asking for some help from the docti rebus militaribus.
I'm reviewing a book about the reign of Elagabalus, and the author suggests that the rank and file soldiers found no objection to the shenanigans of the Syrian emperor, while the Praetorians hated him for his apparent disinterest in all things military. In investigating the HA, Dio and Herodian, I was surprised to find references to the soldiers (stratiwtai and milites) in the City who seem not to be the equivalent to the Praetorians. Furthermore, these (same?) soldiers seem also to have been in Rome while Elagabalus was still wintering in Nicomedia -- and I presume that the Praetorians are with him in Nicomedia.
So here are my questions: What soldiers are stationed in Rome if not the Praetorians? Are they being confused with the Praetorians? If not, would the Praetorians ever stay in Rome while the Emperor was on campaign? And if they're not Praetorians, would they be legionaries? Any help would be so very, very much appreciated!
Ago gratias vobis, o docti rebus militaribus!
SemproniaDocta
aka Julie Langford-Johnson
I'm reviewing a book about the reign of Elagabalus, and the author suggests that the rank and file soldiers found no objection to the shenanigans of the Syrian emperor, while the Praetorians hated him for his apparent disinterest in all things military. In investigating the HA, Dio and Herodian, I was surprised to find references to the soldiers (stratiwtai and milites) in the City who seem not to be the equivalent to the Praetorians. Furthermore, these (same?) soldiers seem also to have been in Rome while Elagabalus was still wintering in Nicomedia -- and I presume that the Praetorians are with him in Nicomedia.
So here are my questions: What soldiers are stationed in Rome if not the Praetorians? Are they being confused with the Praetorians? If not, would the Praetorians ever stay in Rome while the Emperor was on campaign? And if they're not Praetorians, would they be legionaries? Any help would be so very, very much appreciated!
Ago gratias vobis, o docti rebus militaribus!
SemproniaDocta
aka Julie Langford-Johnson