characteristic of Praetorian soldiers in respect to corruption or political venality; "a large praetorian bureaucracy filled with ambitious and often sycophantic people makes work and makes trouble"- Arthur M Schlesinger Jr
You can use praetorian guard to refer to a group of people who are close associates and loyal supporters of someone important. (Latin, cohors praetoria) Household troops of the Roman emperors. In the 2nd century BC they were bodyguards for Roman generals, their name taken from the general's tent (praetorium). During the civil wars military leaders had personal bodyguards, but in 27 BC Augustus created a permanent corps to guard the emperor and stationed its members around Rome. In AD 23, with Sejanus as commander, they gained political influence; from then on, they usually had an important voice in the appointment of emperors. They were responsible for the accession of Claudius (41), the disorders of 68-69, the lynching of Domitian's murderers (97), and the murder of Elagabalus (222). Constantine I disbanded the Praetorian Guard in 312