5 ms·

Arguably, Rome and the Praetorian Guard. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_Guard https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Praetorian_Guard

• shrimp_emoji 4y ago
  Rome fell because of the Praetorian Guard? Not because of unsustainable conquest, a massive influx of slaves taking all the work, flawed institutional structures with only norm-based barriers to generals from seizing control of the government, and massive Germanic migrations due to reasons unknown (probably steppe people)?
  • webnrrd2k 4y ago
    The Praetorian Guard appointed Claudius as emperor, and had assassinated several others, all of which could be considered, arguably, a major step in the downfall of the Roman Empire. Remember, this was a response to illustrate: ”When your military suppliers and contractors become large enough to buy the government, they grow like a malignancy, bleed the productivity and resources of the empire into building things that explode, and kill the host."
    • red-iron-pine 4y ago
      Not just Claudius, they were involved in a few imperial transitions. But it's debatable if that's a military-industrial complex functioning in conditions of economic hazard. Like, advisors and royal courts plotting against the ruler is fairly common and historically never involved stock buyback schemes.