CELERES

(Lat. celer, stcifl.) In Ancient History, the body of cavalry instituted by Romulus when he settled the constitution of Rome. They consisted of those among the citizens who were rich enough to furnish a horse. They are said to have been 300 in number, and to have been subdivided into three centuries, under the name of Ramnes, Titienses, and Luceres; but this seems to proceed on the false supposition that the three tribes known by these names were among the institutions of Romulus. The number of the centuries of the Celeres v*s raised to six by Tarquinius Priscus: this was the origin of the Equites or knights, who in after-times formed a separate cla of citizens. [s. 219]