02-05-2001, 03:50 PM
Sander's spot-on about the Praetorians; for crowd control I would expect the Urban Cohorts and even the Vigiles saw a lot more use. Tacitus indicates the Urbani were formed for just such purposes as public policing. Apparently the Urbani and Vigiles had an uncertain and occasionally unfriendly relationship with the Guard and their cavalry arm, as well as the <i> Equites Singulares Augusti</i>.<br>
<br>
We can find cases of the bodyguard arm coming to blows with the Roman "paramilitary" arm in the streets of Rome itself. Perhaps overlap in the missions of personal protection and public policing exacerbated existing tensions between the forces, which despite being referred to collectively as the 'Rome Cohorts' were not paid equally and did not enjoy equal privileges. <p></p><i></i>
<br>
We can find cases of the bodyguard arm coming to blows with the Roman "paramilitary" arm in the streets of Rome itself. Perhaps overlap in the missions of personal protection and public policing exacerbated existing tensions between the forces, which despite being referred to collectively as the 'Rome Cohorts' were not paid equally and did not enjoy equal privileges. <p></p><i></i>
Cheers,
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com
We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
Jenny
Founder, Roman Army Talk and RomanArmy.com
We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we can find in our travels is an honest friend.
-- Robert Louis Stevenson
