Equestrian

• The Equestrian Class was a third class that evolved during Roman History to become a powerful middle class between the Plebeian class and the Patrician class.

Roman Social Class System

• Early Roman Society was divided into the Patrician Class and the Plebeian Class, and the History of Rome is the struggle between these two classes.
• As a consequence there emerged a third class, the Equestrians (Knights).

Equestrians were a Division of the Roman Army (403 BCE)

• Prior to 403 BCE
  • Previously, Equestrians were not a distinct class in the Constitution but represented a division of the Roman Army. The Equestrian centuries more or less, consisted of a mix of Patricians and Plebeians.
• From 403 BCE onwards
  • They were divided into two Classes of Equestrian:
    • Equites Equo Publico – those who received their horses from the State, chosen or demoted by the Censors.
    • Equites Romani – those who supplied their own horses.
• The Centuriate
  • Originally there were six centuries of Equestrians (possibly all Patrician).
  • Later, twelve were added making eighteen centuries of mixed Patrician and Plebeian classes.
• Samnite Wars (343-290 BCE)
  • As a result of the Samnite Wars, followed by the Punic Wars, there were insufficient members of the Patrician Class to complete the Cavalry requirement for the Republican Legions.
  • The shortfall was made up by accepting the wealthier members of the Plebeian Class, the First Class of Commoners in the Centuriate.

The Knights are officially created as a Class (123 BCE)

• Ordo Equestris
  • In 123 BCE the Lex Sempronia Agraria passed by Gaius Gracchus, officially created a new class, the ‘Ordo Equestris’ or Equestrian Class.
• The Equestrians
  • The Equites (The Roman Knights) then developed as a separate class, defined by a minimum property value of 50,000 Denarii. Under Augustus, it was doubled to 100,000 Denarii, and later on to 400,000 Denarii.
• Under the Roman Empire
  • During the Empire (27 BCE-476 CE), the Equestrians were given senior Military and Political Posts.
  • The powerful role of Praefectus Praetorio of the Praetorian Guard was split between two Equites.
• Commerce
  • As Senators were restricted in what commercial activity they could operate in, the Equestrians ran the businesses.
• Ordo Senatorius
  • The Senatorial Order, ‘Ordo Senatorius’, was created by Augustus to provide an elite within the Equites. Admission was set at 250,000 Denarii.
• The Equestrian Career Path:
  • The Equo Publico was their own version of the Cursus Honorum

Under the Roman Republic

• The Equestrians were a division of the Army
  • Previously, the Equestrians were not a distinct class in the Constitution but represented a division of the Roman Army. The Equestrian centuries more or less, consisted of a mix of Patricians and Plebeians.
  • They were divided into two Classes of Equestrian from 403 BCE onwards:
    • Equites Equo Publico
      • Those who received their horses from the State, chosen or demoted by the Censors.
    • Equites Romani
      • Those who supplied their own horses.
  • Originally there were six centuries of Equestrians (possibly all Patrician), later twelve were added making eighteen centuries of mixed Patrician and Plebian classes.
• Ordo Equestris (123 BCE)
  • Lex Sempronia: Gracchus passed this Law creating a new class, the ‘Ordo Equestris’.
• Qualification
  • Under 60 and over 30 years old.
  • Must possess either ‘Equus Publicus’ or minimum Property value.
  • Had to be a Judex. These were citizens possessing Equestrian Wealth. Judex: plural Judices, were Private Persons appointed by the Praetor to hear petty causes, similar to Jurors today.
  • Senators were excluded.
  • Selected by the Praetor Urbanus
• Equestris Ordo
  • After Cicero‘s Consulship, the Equestrians acted as a third group in society. ‘Senatus Populusque Romanus’ was followed by et ‘Equestris Ordo’
• Lex Roscia Othonis (63 BCE)
  • This Law conferred the first 14 seats in the the Theatre, behind the Orchestra were dedicated to the Equites. They already had reserved seating in the Circus Maximus.
• Gold Ring
  • They could also all wear a gold ring. Originally it was just the Equites Equo Publico.
• Cavalry Officers, but not soldiers
  • However by the time of Julius Caesar and the Gallic Wars, the Equites no longer served as Horse-soldiers in the Roman Army.
  • This was done entirely by Cavalry of allied Kingdoms and States.
  • The Equites were Officers on horseback, but not soldiers.

Under the Roman Empire

• Qualification:
  • Augustus reformed the Equites in 29 BCE:
  • Property not character became the basis for entry into the Equites and their numbers were expanded.
  • Minimum property value of 100,000 Denarii.
• Illustres Equites Romani
  • Augustus created a separate class of Equites. the ‘Illustres Equites Romani’. Admission was if they possessed the same Property as a Senator, and were freeborn up to the Grandfather.
  • They held the right to wear the ‘Clavus Angustus’, a narrow purple stripe on the front and back of the Tunica
  • They could become a Senator or a Tribune of the Plebs.
  • Once they had served their tenure of Office, they could either remain in the Roman Senate or they could return to the Equestrian class.
• Army Officers and Magistrates
  • All the Senior Officers in the Roman Army and chief magistrates were chosen from the Equites.
  • If excluded from the Equites, the only positions available were Centurion or Head of a municipal town.
  • All Equites not in the above positions had to live in Rome, where they could become a lesser magistrate and enter the Roman Senate.
  • They were divided into 6 Turmae, each headed by an Officer
• High Offices of State
  • Equites were retained by the Emperors for all the higher offices of State up until the Reforms of Diocletian, after which Rome was no longer the seat of government.
• Primus Pilus
  • The Chief Centurian (Primus Pilus) of each Legion was admitted to the Equestrian Class after one year’s service, and they were known as the ‘Primipilares’.
  • These formed an entirely different grouping within the Equestrians, as they were mostly from the Balkans, and not from the wealthy landed Italian Aristocracy, and were initially excluded from the Roman Senate and Senatorial promotions.

Equo Publico

• The Equo Publico was the Career Path for the Roman Equestrian Class which consisted of three levels called Offices.
• The Patrician Class had their own separate Career Path called the Cursus Honorum.