ABSTRACT
Evidence regarding the precise details of the development of the Roman cavalry is scant. Various ancient authors offer fragmentary glimpses of the changes that occurred through time, but the information that would enable us to view this progression as a continual process is lacking. The source dealing with the earliest period is Livy (1.13), who records that under Romulus (traditionally 753 bc), the legendary founder of Rome, three centuries of knights (equites) were created, each being named after one of the three ‘tribes’ that existed at this time: the Ramnenses, Titienses and Luceres. Later, under Tarquinius Priscus, the strength of these centuries was increased to 1800 men in total.
