the order of knights in ancient Rome. The equites, or knights, originally formed the cavalry of the army. They are said by Livy to have been instituted by Romulus, who selected 300 of them from the three principal tribes. About 123 B. C. the equites became a distinct order in the State, and the judges and the farmers of the revenue were selected from their ranks. Toward the end of the Republic they possessed much influence.