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The Roman Army: A Social and Institutional History - Karatunov.net

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116<br />

<strong>The</strong> <strong>Roman</strong> A rmy<br />

Sculptural relief of the second century ad, showing officers <strong>and</strong> soldiers of the<br />

Praetorian Guard. (<strong>The</strong> Art Archive/Musée du Louvre Paris/Dagli Orti )<br />

succession of comm<strong>and</strong>s in the various military forces in the city. Some of them<br />

could progress to an ad m i n i s tra tive career, becoming Im perial proc u ra tors in<br />

the provinces.<br />

Augustus excluded senators from comm<strong>and</strong> of the Praetorians, appointing<br />

two equestrian Praetorian Prefects in 2 bc, on the same collegiate principle as<br />

the consuls so that one could keep the other in check, the notorious Sejanus being<br />

one excepti on to this ru l e . <strong>The</strong> Praetorians did not en j oy direct po l i ti c a l<br />

power, but they exercised enormous influence, <strong>and</strong> their acquiescence or other-

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