Bryce Felperin wrote: | ||
Actually the Romans did have a social class, "Equites" (sp?) I believe, in the early Republic that did reflect men who could afford to be mounted on horses. It was both a social and military class since the soldiers in early pre-Marian Roman armies had to afford their own equipment when called up to serve. Of course whether this was carried further in Imperial Roman times and especially the Late Empire period I really couldn't tell you. I'm sure there are some better Roman history buffs on the list who could elaborate on this more than I. |
I had forgotten about them. If my Latin history serves me, the Equites were middle class group of men who like you mentioned were involved in the military. Their name derives from the the Latin word for horse because they were mounted horsemen. So yes in a sense the Romans did have the Middle Ages equivalant of knights