- Castra Praetoria
Castra Praetoria are the ancient barracks ("
castra ") of thePraetorian Guard ofImperial Rome .According to the Roman historian
Suetonius , the barracks were built in23 by Lucius Aelius Sejanus, the praetorian prefect serving under the emperorTiberius , in an effort to consolidate the several divisions of the guards.The barracks were erected just outside the city of
Rome and surrounded by solid masonry walls, measuring a total of 440 x 380 meters (1443 x 1246 ft). Three of the four sides of the walls were later incorporated in theAurelian Walls , and parts of them are clearly visible today.The adjacent city district "
Castro Pretorio " is named after the barracks.The Castra Praetoria was destroyed by
Constantine I , who also disbanded the Praetorian Guard upon his invasion of Italy while Maxentius ruled as theWestern Roman Emperor .Bunson, 342.] Their last stand was at theBattle of the Milvian Bridge in 312, and after Constantine's victory he officially disbanded the Praetorian, sending them out to different corners of the empire.Notes
References
*Bunson, Matthew (1994). "Encyclopedia of the Roman Empire". New York: Facts on File Inc. ISBN 0-8160-3182-7
External links
* [http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/Gazetteer/Places/Europe/Italy/Lazio/Roma/Rome/_Texts/PLATOP*/Castra_Praetoria.html Castra Praetoria] in S.B.Platner and T.Ashby: "Topographical Dictionary of Ancient Rome", London 1929
* [http://www.romeartlover.it/Vasi05a.htm Mura dell'antico Castro Pretorio] (includes etchings byGiuseppe Vasi and recent photographs)
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