These men were the non-specialist regular
soldiers that made up the bulk of a
legion's numbers. Alongside soldiering, they also performed guard duties, labour work, building and other non-combat roles, which increased their status in urban centers.[1] Milites would usually have to serve for several years before becoming eligible for
training to become
immunes and thus become specialists with better pay.[2][3]
Medieval Era
The Latin term eventually became synonymous with "
soldier", a general term that, in Western Europe, became associated with the mounted
knight, because they composed the professional military corps during the Early
Medieval Era.[4][5][6][7] The same term, however, was expanded to mean less distinguished
infantry soldiers (milites pedites).[7][8] During the
13th century the term referred to the mounted horsemen who lacked knight-status, but still had similar properties and obligations to the dubbed knights.[9]
^Kostick, Conor (2008). "Milites: Knights or Simply Mounted Warriors?". The Social Structure of the First Crusade. Brill. pp. 159–186.
JSTOR10.1163/j.ctt1w8h1gw.10.