The
Equites (
nom. singular; sometimes called "
knights" in modern times because of the involvement of horses) constituted the lower of the two
aristocratic classes of
ancient Rome, ranking below the
patricians (
patricii), a hereditary caste that monopolized political power during the
regal era (753 to 509 BC) and during the early
Republic (to 338 BC). A member of the equestrian order was known as an
eques (plural:
equites).