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While the Imperial Bodyguard was mainly stationed in Rome, it was not uncommon for Praetorian officers to be located elsewhere in Italy. The Praetorian Prefect was important in the government of Italy. There is evidence that Praetorians could be stationed throughout Italy. Imperial Bodyguards often administered areas and urban centers in Italy. For example, the graves of Praetorians have been found in Pompeii, where they were presumably involved in local affairs. It was believed that Praetorians had a role in collecting taxes and maintaining law and order. They would, presumably, ensure that the orders of the Emperor were enforced at the local level. It is believed that Praetorians were employed to arbitrate in local land disputes between communities, which often threatened to flare up into open violence.<ref>Kelpie, p 116</ref> It also appears that they were involved in the collection of taxes. The exact role of the Praetorian in the Italian provinces is unknown, but it appears that they played an important role in the administration of Italy.

The Praetorian Guards were an important institution in the history of Imperial Rome. They were used to guard the Emperor and to protect his person and his family. This was a critical task in any autocracy such as the Roman Empire. However, they were in a privileged position to determine if an emperor should stay in power. Praetorian Guards never ousted a strong Emperor, but the Imperial bodyguard was often a destabilizing factor in Imperial politics.

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