Lindsay Powell

They weren't special troops in that way, but they were people that were handpicked that were presumably willing to put their lives on the line for the commander. And then when you get to, for example, Julius Caesar, who's active in Gaul, he actually chooses a particular group of tribesmen in Spain.

They weren't special troops in that way, but they were people that were handpicked that were presumably willing to put their lives on the line for the commander. And then when you get to, for example, Julius Caesar, who's active in Gaul, he actually chooses a particular group of tribesmen in Spain.

They weren't special troops in that way, but they were people that were handpicked that were presumably willing to put their lives on the line for the commander. And then when you get to, for example, Julius Caesar, who's active in Gaul, he actually chooses a particular group of tribesmen in Spain.

who actually are called Cytrorum, I think is the name that probably refers to the tribe that they come from. And he's particularly impressed with them. And he has a bunch of those people with him, but he also has Batavians as well. So he sees the value in having non-Romans serving as close troops to him. And begs the question, well, why would he do that?

who actually are called Cytrorum, I think is the name that probably refers to the tribe that they come from. And he's particularly impressed with them. And he has a bunch of those people with him, but he also has Batavians as well. So he sees the value in having non-Romans serving as close troops to him. And begs the question, well, why would he do that?

who actually are called Cytrorum, I think is the name that probably refers to the tribe that they come from. And he's particularly impressed with them. And he has a bunch of those people with him, but he also has Batavians as well. So he sees the value in having non-Romans serving as close troops to him. And begs the question, well, why would he do that?

And you could speculate, well, they have, in a sense, no vested interest in threatening him. I mean, he's going to pay them, right? He's going to pay them quite handsomely. What's interesting, later in the campaign, he dismisses the Gauls and keeps the Germans, the Batavians. seeming to trust them more.

And you could speculate, well, they have, in a sense, no vested interest in threatening him. I mean, he's going to pay them, right? He's going to pay them quite handsomely. What's interesting, later in the campaign, he dismisses the Gauls and keeps the Germans, the Batavians. seeming to trust them more.

And you could speculate, well, they have, in a sense, no vested interest in threatening him. I mean, he's going to pay them, right? He's going to pay them quite handsomely. What's interesting, later in the campaign, he dismisses the Gauls and keeps the Germans, the Batavians. seeming to trust them more.

And again, it points to the fact that it might have caused and ruffled some feathers amongst the Roman legionaries who might think, well, why are we not special enough that we can be chosen for those roles? I imagine it's a sort of threat mitigation strategy. There are cases in modern history as well as ancient history where one of your own people comes and attacks you.

And again, it points to the fact that it might have caused and ruffled some feathers amongst the Roman legionaries who might think, well, why are we not special enough that we can be chosen for those roles? I imagine it's a sort of threat mitigation strategy. There are cases in modern history as well as ancient history where one of your own people comes and attacks you.

And again, it points to the fact that it might have caused and ruffled some feathers amongst the Roman legionaries who might think, well, why are we not special enough that we can be chosen for those roles? I imagine it's a sort of threat mitigation strategy. There are cases in modern history as well as ancient history where one of your own people comes and attacks you.

And in fact, during the campaign with the Viriatus in Lusitania, he was finally killed through the treachery of someone who he thought was a friend and actually an employee of the Romans. So, you know, there is the risk that you have to know who's guarding you.

And in fact, during the campaign with the Viriatus in Lusitania, he was finally killed through the treachery of someone who he thought was a friend and actually an employee of the Romans. So, you know, there is the risk that you have to know who's guarding you.

And in fact, during the campaign with the Viriatus in Lusitania, he was finally killed through the treachery of someone who he thought was a friend and actually an employee of the Romans. So, you know, there is the risk that you have to know who's guarding you.

And Caesar then effectively sets up a tradition of having a proper military guard, which his grandnephew Augustus, as we will call him, adopts and formalizes. So there is this tradition of military commanders having a guard.

And Caesar then effectively sets up a tradition of having a proper military guard, which his grandnephew Augustus, as we will call him, adopts and formalizes. So there is this tradition of military commanders having a guard.

And Caesar then effectively sets up a tradition of having a proper military guard, which his grandnephew Augustus, as we will call him, adopts and formalizes. So there is this tradition of military commanders having a guard.

And even beyond that, there's an element of, if you're a rich individual, like a Licinius Truncratus, for example, you are rich enough to be able to pay for slaves or mercenaries to guard you. And again, there's an optic side to this. Romans of the upper class, the senatorial class, the patrician class, are particularly aware that you need to have a following of clients.

And even beyond that, there's an element of, if you're a rich individual, like a Licinius Truncratus, for example, you are rich enough to be able to pay for slaves or mercenaries to guard you. And again, there's an optic side to this. Romans of the upper class, the senatorial class, the patrician class, are particularly aware that you need to have a following of clients.