Herod's despotic rule has been demonstrated by many of his security measures aimed at suppressing the contempt his people, especially Jews, had towards him. For instance, it has been suggested that Herod used secret police to monitor and report the feelings of the general populace toward him. He sought to prohibit protests, and had opponents removed by force. He had a bodyguard of 2 000 soldiers. Josephus describes various units of Herod's personal guard taking part in Herod's funeral, including the "Doryphnoroi", and a Thracian, Celtic (probably Gallic) and Germanic contingent. While the term "Doryphnoroi" does not have an ethnic connotation, the unit was probably composed of distinguished veteran soldiers and young men from the most influential Jewish families. Thracians had served in the Jewish armies since the Hasmonean dynasty, while the Celtic contingent were former bodyguards of Cleopatra given as a gift by Augustus to Herod following the Battle of Actium. The Germanic contingent was modeled upon Augustus's personal bodyguard, the "Germani Corporis Custodes", responsible for guarding the palace.