So are we getting the basic idea of Praetorians wrong?
What was special about them as compared to "orginary" legions?
I have just pulled the following off a web site, does it sound correct?
"The Praetorian Guard was formed by the emperor Augustus to help prevent assassins from reaching the emperor and murdering him as Brutus and his companions had murdered Julius Caesar. It was called by that name in imitation of the Praetoria Cohors, or select troop, which attended the person of the praetor or general of the Roman army. This cohort is said to have been first formed by Scipio Africanus out of the bravest troops, whom he exempted from all their duties except guarding his person."
And:
"The term "Praetorian" came from the tent of the legate of a legion in the field - the praetorium. It was a habit of many Roman generals to choose from the ranks a private force of soldiers to act as bodyguards of the tent or the person. They consisted of both infantry and cavalry. In time, this cohort came to be known as the cohors praetoria, and various notable figures possessed one, including Julius Caesar, Marcus Antonius and Augustus Caesar (Octavianus). As Caesar discovered with the Legio X Gemina, a powerful unit more dangerous than its fellow legions was desirable in the field. When Augustus became the first ruler of the Roman Empire in 27 BC, he decided such a formation was useful not only in war but in politics. Thus, from the ranks of the legions throughout the provinces, Augustus recruited the Praetorian Guard."
I have seen a few more like that as well...
So if the general's body guard are the Praetoria Cohors, then are the other Praetorian units merely extensions of these??
If so it appears that the creation of these units by any of the Roman factions is perfectly valid (though whole legions of them are a tad unrealistic)...
I have also come across the following:
Cohors urbana - Urban cohort. military police unit.
COHORS URBANA - Cohort assigned to protect or police a city, town or village.
"The eductated and wealthy are always treated with a good deal more respect and favour in law courts than ‘everybody else’. For the wealthy who are found guilty, crimes such as fines and exile are more appropriate. For everyone else there are also confiscations of property, flogging, mutilation, service as a slave-gladiator or galley or mine slave, or execution (by wild animal, beheading or crucifixion). Public order is kept by the local garrison of the army, usually light troops such as cavalry or archers. Sometimes mercenaries are hired by the governor to keep the peace, or a special unit of troops, an urban cohort, is raised. "
It appears that the Urban cohort was raised specifically for policing duties, but other that that details are not easy to find (on Google anyway

) Do we know why they are the most elite of the Roman units in RTW??
Opinions??
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