How ordinary legionaries viewed the Praetorians
Throughout all times and in any regular army with harsh rules and strict discipline, an ordinary soldier aims to keep away from officers, especially from the high command. The soldier’s wisdom of “stay away from the bosses, closer to the kitchen” has been known for a long time. Soldiers in Ancient Rome also feared their commanders. It was customary for a legion commander to walk only with the accompaniment of lictors (bodyguards and executioners), armed with bundles of rods for flogging and minor axes, also serving an obvious purpose. However, some soldiers, on the contrary, sought to be closer to the command.
Every Roman commander had several personal bodyguards, adjutants, assistants, and simply careerists, seeking to ingratiate themselves and, therefore, trying to catch the eye of their superior more often. In Rome, this whole gang was called the “Praetorian cohort,” from the name of the commander’s tent — the praetorium. A significant part of this cohort was made up of young men from noble families who went to serve with the commander without exerting themselves too much. I think how ordinary soldiers and line officers viewed them is pretty obvious.
