Three units taking order in Eternal City

In the Roman Empire, there were three forces to ensure order in the Eternal City. The most famous are the praetorians, the emperor’s soldiers, who abused their power more than once.

At night, the order in the streets was guarded by Vigiles armed with clubs, who also reacted in the event of fires. City cohorts are the third formation appreciated by citizens. For when simple people rebelled against the authority of Emperor Commodus, he sent cavalry troops to the protesters. It was then that city cohorts intervened to prevent bloodshed.

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Great Roman civil war Gallic Wars Commodus Battle of Ruspina and Thapsus Wars of second triumvirate