Equestrian << ih KWEHS tree uhn >> order was a class of prominent citizens in ancient Rome. Most of the order’s members were aristocrats. Originally, they served in the cavalry of the Roman legions. The members of the order were called equites << EHK wuh teez >>, a Latin word meaning horsemen or knights. The order’s military significance declined as cavalry more effective than the equites was recruited from among Rome’s allies. However, the equites retained their political, social, and economic importance.
During the 100’s B.C., the equestrian order expanded and large numbers of nonaristocrats were admitted to it. Over time, the power of the order increased at the expense of the power of the Roman Senate. The equites, for example, gained control of important courts that could try senators. They also engaged in business activities from which senators were excluded.
Although the equites sometimes opposed the Senate, they belonged to the same social and economic level of Roman society as the senators. They intermarried with senatorial families and shared the interests and attitudes of most senators. During the Roman Empire, equites were appointed to high civil and military offices, including viceroy of Egypt and commander of the Praetorian Guard.
