Domesticus (Roman Empire)
A domesticus (or protector ) was a member of the protectores domestici , an elite unit of the late Roman army , which served as the emperor's bodyguard and provided staff officers. Its name indicates that this unit was considered part of the imperial household. After a few years in service, a domesticus was rewarded by the emperor and placed at the head of a Roman regiment. The title domesticus was retained for a long time in the Eastern Roman Empire , graced to Domestikos ; this also applied to protectoror protector . He was used in various functions.
The commander of the domestici , the comes domesticorum , had the high rank of vir illustris . At first there were two of these commanders, one for the cavalry ( comes domesticorum equitum ) and one for the infantry ( comes domesticorum peditum ).
While the protectores domestici in western Rome seem to have remained an actual combat force to the end, in the east they became a militarily worthless parade unit in the east during the 5th century, in which non-warlike men joined because of the good pay (such as Menander Protektor ); the real life guards of the emperor in east current were the excubitores since about 460 .