This organization probably originated from previous Greek military
spies and scouts. There are references to a Roman scouting agency operating during the
Samnite Wars and the speculatores being employed during the
Roman war with the
Aequi.[8] Emperor
Augustus reformed the Roman communications system. Among other reforms, he also added 10 speculatores to each
legion.[9][10][11] With one speculator per
cohort.[12] They also served in the
Praetorian Guard.[13][14] They also served as
political police. Although they were replaced by the frumentarii as police in the third century.[15] As bodyguards, they were tasked with clearing the emperor's pathway of crowds. To do this, they used a type of non-lethal spear known as a lancea.[16][17] They also served as scouts, executioners, torturers, and
assassins.[18] During their operations, they worked in small numbers. Usually in pairs or as individuals.[9] The speculatores were trained by an official known as a centurio exercitator to become skilled in
fighting,
horseriding,
parading, and escorting.[19] Three other officials had important roles in the speculatores. These were the centurio and the centurio speculatorum,[20]centurio trecenarius, and the centurio speculatorum equitarum.[21] There were around 300 members of the speculatores.[22][23] They were chosen based on their discretion and loyalty.[24] Many speculatores would go on to become couriers.[25][26] Their duties lead to them becoming feared and despised by the populace.[18]
Ng, Michael (2012-10-26),
"Praetorian cohorts", in Bagnall, Roger S.; Brodersen, Kai; Champion, Craige B.; Erskine, Andrew (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Ancient History, Oxford, UK: Blackwell Publishing Ltd, pp. wbeah19141,
doi:
10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah19141,
ISBN978-1-4051-7935-5, retrieved 2022-09-03