Final answer:
The purpose of Augustus's newly established praetorian guard was to defend the emperor himself, Italy, and Rome. The guard served as the emperor's personal bodyguard and played a crucial role in maintaining loyalty and protecting the emperor from potential threats.
Step-by-step explanation:
Purpose of Augustus's newly established praetorian guard
Augustus established the praetorian guard with the primary purpose of defending the emperor himself, followed by the defense of Italy and the city of Rome. The praetorian guard consisted of nine cohorts, each initially composed of 480 men, but later expanded to 1,000 men. The guard served as the emperor's personal bodyguard and was responsible for maintaining loyalty and protecting the emperor from potential threats.
Additionally, the terms of service in the praetorian guard were attractive, offering shorter service periods of 16 years compared to the standard 25 years in the military. They also received higher pay. This was done to ensure the favor and loyalty of the praetorians towards the emperors.