'Davenport has produced a very impressive work. Although intended primarily for the serious scholar of Roman institutions, those with an interest in Roman military history will find Davenport's work of considerable value.' A. A. Nofi, StrategyPage (www.strategypage.com)
Introduction: charting the history of the equestrian order; Part I. The Republic: 1. Riding for Rome; 2. Cicero's equestrian order; 3. Questions of status; Part II. The Empire: 4. Pathways to the principate; 5. An imperial order; 6. Cursus and vita (I): officers; 7. Cursus and vita (II): administrators; Part III. Equestrians on Display: 8. Ceremonies and consensus; 9. Spectators and performers; 10. Religion and the Res Publica; Part IV. The Late Empire: 11. Governors and generals; 12. The last equites Romani; Conclusion.