equites

equites

Origins and republic

The early history of the cavalry at Rome is overlaid with legend and speculation. The kings are said to have enrolled 300 celeres or trossuli (later doubled) for the legion. They wore loincloths, tunics with the clavus (stripe), trabeae (short embroidered cloaks), and mullei (strapped red shoes); they were armed with lances and their horses were adorned with phalerae (silver disks). Their insignia, in various adapted forms, later became the distinctive attire of patricians, magistrates, and senators. Twelve hundred equites were allegedly added by Servius Tullius. These 1,800 had their horses supplied and maintained by the state (hence equites equo publico), out of the property taxes paid by widows and orphans. They had to serve ten campaigns. In the centuriate assembly they formed eighteen centuriae, later including (it seems) those...

[The entire page is 2456 words long]

Join eNotes

The above is a free excerpt. Get total access to this content with the:

eNotes Pass