ROM039 The Emperor Augustus
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Description
King and Country ROM039 The Emperor Augustus
Caesar’s adopted heir, Gaius Octavius was born into one of Rome’s noblest families and was named by Caesar himself to be his successor. Upon taking power and renaming himself Augustus the young ruler dramatically enlarged the Empire around the Mediterranean and into Africa. He completed the conquest of Hispania, (present day Spain) and developed a broad network of fine roads connecting the far flung parts of the Empire.
Much of Rome itself was also rebuilt and improved during his reign which included creating a police force and a fire-fighting service.
Augustus died in AD14 at the ripe old age of 75, possibly from natural causes but probably by poison, given to him by his wife Livia to ensure that her son, Tiberius would succeed him. Such was life (and death) in Ancient Rome!
The Praetorian Guard (Latin: cohortes praetoriae) was an elite formation of the Roman Army whose soldiers served as the personal body guards and intelligence service for the Roman Emperors. During the Roman Republic, the Praetorians served as a small escort force for high-ranking officials such as senators or provincial governors.
With the transformation into the Roman Empire the first emperor, Augustus, altered the Guard to become his personal security detail to the exclusion of all their former duties and responsibilities. In this capacity they continued in existence for the next three centuries. The Guard became famous or perhaps, infamous, for their intrigue and interference in Roman politics overthrowing and sometimes even killing their emperors, Caligula being their most notable victim.
The Praetorian Guard, like other Roman Legionaries carried the standard sword and dagger and in the Imperial period, which K&C portray, wear the ‘Lorica Segmentata’ armor over a white tunic. Shields carried were the oval and more robust shape rather than the regular Legion rectangular ones. Their terms of service, food and lodging were much better than other Roman soldiers and only Roman citizens could be recruited to their ranks.
Symbols carried on their shields and banners included stars, crescents and... scorpions.
The price shown is US$ and A$ price will be calculated at time of purchase.
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