History of the Roman Equestrian Order

The equestrian order was a prestigious social hierarchy in Roman society,second only to the senatorial aristocracy. This book offers a comprehensive history of the order from the eighth century BC to the fifth century AD, examining how Rome's cavalry became the equestrian order and how imperial rule transformed their role in government.

Format: Hardback
Length: 738 pages
Publication date: 10 January 2019
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

The equestrian order held a prestigious position in the Roman social hierarchy, ranking second only to the senatorial aristocracy in terms of status and prestige. Spanning over a millennium of Roman history, equestrians played significant roles in the governance, military, and society of the Roman Empire as cavalrymen, officers, businessmen, tax collectors, jurors, administrators, and writers. This comprehensive book presents the first thorough account of the equestrian order, spanning from the eighth century BC to the fifth century AD. It delves into the transformation of Rome's cavalry into the equestrian order during the Republican period, followed by an analysis of how imperial rule reshaped the roles of equestrians in government. Through a combination of literary and documentary evidence, the book showcases the vital social role played by the equestrian order within the Roman world, highlighting how it was shaped by the evolution of the Roman state itself.

Weight: 1614g
Dimension: 186 x 255 x 36 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781107032538