(adjective) of, forming, or resembling the Roman imperial bodyguard / (adjective) of or relating to a praetor
Burgess, Philby, Maclean, Blunt, and their praetorians
used metaphorically here I assume
With a past checkered with praetorian preeminence
the praetorian guard of "super delegates"
on Bernie
The rise of New Labour had seen the unions, traditionally the praetorian guard of the Labour leadership, cast out