Were there Police in Ancient Rome.

Were there Police in Ancient Rome? In this history documentary we examine the law enforcement system of Ancient Rome. We begin by discussing the chief magistrates who presided over the law and order in the city of Rome. This includes the Consuls, Censors, Praetors, Aediles, and the Tresviri Capitales. At their disposal was a small group of lictors who functioned as bodyguards and musclemen of the law. While they may have been sufficient at first, the instability of the Roman Civil War necessitated an expansion of the police force in ancient Rome.

Under Augustus, this involved the founding of new police forces in Rome including the Praetorian Guard, the Urban Cohorts, and the Vigiles. We discuss each of their histories and their roles. Finally we look at the issues of corruption and the legacy of the institutions in the long run.