Bodyguard

A bodyguard consists of one or more bodyguards and is for the protection of life and physical integrity of certain individuals responsible - often around the clock. Due to the high labor costs have usually only wealthy, important, or immediately threatened people ( politicians, business leaders, celebrities, star witness, mafia bosses ) a bodyguard.

Linguistically, the term competes bodyguard in German nowadays with the anglicism bodyguard.

The bodyguard in the history

Historically, a bodyguard (called as a military association bodyguard ) in a band which was intended for the immediate protection of the ruler. The bodyguard was known even in ancient times, such as the Persian kings had the 10 000 immortals as an exquisite Guard troops. Even Philip of Macedon and his son Alexander the Great created from the sons of the landed gentry a mounted bodyguard ( Somatophylakes ). However, not only the protective function of these guards for their masters played a role. Was equally important in the reverse case, the aspect of bodyguard hostage. The fact that their sons in the bodyguard of the sovereign were on duty, even the smaller princes were under its control - a good remedy against uprisings.

In republican Rome had the commander of the army, the Cohors praetoria as a bodyguard who became the Prätorianerkorps later. The Roman emperor created a special bodyguard, the Custodes corporis, which consisted of Germans. Also, the bodyguard of the Byzantine Emperor traditionally consisted foreign pagan mercenaries as Varangians, Cuman or Pecheneg, which themselves could make no claim to the throne.

In the Ottoman Empire, the Janissaries were long -time bodyguards. In the Middle Ages guards were the only regular troops of the prince, and were often used against recalcitrant vassals. In the German language only had the rulers of Austria -Hungary and Bavaria special bodyguards Before 1918. During the period of National Socialism was the bodyguard of Adolf Hitler leader accompanying command, this unit belonged administratively to the staff of the " Leibstandarte Adolf Hitler" on.

Bodyguards in the old sense no longer exists today. Instead, it is spoken of personal protection.