, ▁royal ▁gu ards ▁have ▁frequently ▁been ▁able ▁to ▁play ▁a ▁political ▁role ▁beyond ▁their ▁intended ▁military ▁and ▁social ▁ones . ▁In ▁times ▁of ▁revolution , ▁the ▁continued ▁loyal ty ▁or ▁defe ction ▁of ▁such ▁units ▁has ▁often ▁played ▁a ▁key ▁part ▁in ▁the ▁outcome ▁of ▁wider ▁un rest . ▁Historical ▁examples ▁were ▁England ▁in ▁ 1 6 8 8 , ▁Spain ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 8 , ▁Sweden ▁in ▁ 1 8 0 9 , ▁France ▁in ▁ 1 7 8 9 ▁and ▁again ▁in ▁ 1 8 1 4 - 1 5 , ▁Russia ▁in ▁ 1 9 1 7 ▁and ▁Pers ia ▁in ▁ 1 9 0 6 ▁and ▁again ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 3 . ▁ ▁List ▁of ▁royal ▁gu ards ▁ ▁Past ▁▁ ▁Mes edi , ▁in ▁the ▁H itt ite ▁Empire ▁ ▁Med j ay , ▁since ▁the ▁old ▁kingdom ▁of ▁Egypt ▁until ▁the ▁P to le ma ic ▁dynast y ▁▁▁ ▁Som at oph y la kes , ▁in ▁the ▁ancient ▁Kingdom ▁of ▁Mac ed onia ▁ ▁Imperial ▁Guard , ▁in ▁the ▁A cha emen id ▁Empire ▁of ▁Pers ia ▁ ▁Pra et or ian ▁Guard , ▁in ▁the ▁Roman ▁Empire ▁ ▁J ov ians ▁and ▁Her cul ians , ▁in ▁late ▁Roman ▁Empire ▁and ▁early ▁By z antine ▁Empire ▁ ▁J ì n ▁J ū n , ▁in ▁the ▁Tang ▁D ynast y ▁of ▁China ▁▁ ▁Sh ì w è i , ▁in ▁the ▁Q ing ▁D ynast y ▁of ▁China ▁ ▁Man