Who were the Praetorian Guards, and what was their role in the governance of the Roman Empire?

The Praetorian Guards were a unit of elite soldiers who served as the personal bodyguards of the Roman Emperor. They were initially formed to protect the general who commanded the Praetorian Cohort, an elite military unit that was tasked with protecting the Roman capital city of Rome. Over time, the Praetorian Guards became more powerful and influential in the governance of the Roman Empire, and their loyalty often shifted to the highest bidder or the most powerful contender for the imperial throne.

The Praetorian Guards had the power to make or break emperors, and their influence extended beyond just providing protection for the Emperor. They had the authority to depose an Emperor and replace them with their preferred candidate, and they often used this power to extract bribes and favors from the ruling Emperor. They were also used as a tool for political repression, often serving as enforcers for unpopular policies or for eliminating political rivals.

The Praetorian Guards were disbanded in AD 312 by the Emperor Constantine, who saw them as a threat to his power. The Praetorian Guards' legacy, however, lives on in popular culture as a symbol of elite military power and political corruption.