Vexillatio Equitum, Equites, Numerus Equitum

[Nathan Ross]

George the Monk

Crikey, you really are delving into some obscure sources!

Buy why do George and Cedrenus think that Gordian III and the elder Philippus were called either 'Junior' or 'Senior'? It does sound a bit like an attempt to explain the seniores/iuniores unit division... all very curious... (and as the Praetorians and Equites Domini Nostri still existed prior to 312, the mid 3rd century seems a bit early for the Candidati, I think?)

the Passion of Sergius and Bacchus... states a Schola Gentilium for the year 303 AD.

I find David Woods's theory (here) that Sergius and Bacchus date to Julian, with aspects drawn from an earlier passio, quite convincing.

there is an earlier historical example of “equites”

The word is used very frequently for all sorts of horsemen, so we probably shouldn't draw too much from it (and particularly not from the HE!).

Mr. Dogmatius

Ha! Well spotted...