Milites in the Kingdom of Hungary Society from 11th and 12th Century Sources

Milites remain a frequently discussed component of Middle Age Hungarian society, though their standing among the general population can be examined mainly through surviving references from the legal codes of Hungarian kings Stephen I, Ladislaus I and Koloman. In the Kingdom of Hungary times, milites can be found among both the free and unfree population. From contemporary sources, it is possible to identify milites within Hungarian society and to observe a unifying element in the apparent dichotomy. The common characteristic that connected milites of different social status, from members of the lowest social classes to nobles, princes or counts, was the execution of a specific armed service to their lords. By way of this performance, the milites formed a relatively closed group of men comprising an elite part of the larger army, whose fellowship was strengthened not only on the battlefield, but also during feasts in the lordsʼ mansions. Gradually, the milites became a more exclusive group of men from the upper social classes who, from the 12^th century onwards, could call themselves knights.