Thus, from this date if not earlier, not all "equites" were patricians. The "equites", cavalrymen, were used as flankers and to pursue routed enemies. The "equites", cavalrymen, were used as flankers and to pursue routing enemies. Its counterparts were the Roman "equites" (equestrians) and medieval knights. Each legion was supported by a unit of 300 cavalries, the "equites". The "equites" were used as scouts and dispatch riders rather than battlefield cavalry. The Saracens are described as forming the "equites" (heavy cavalry) from Phoenicia and Thamud. The equites and two senators, Quintus Hortensius and Gaius Scribonius Curio, supported Cicero. Their role as horsemen made them particularly attractive to the Roman "equites" and cavalry. At Augustus' death, the "equites", or knights, chose Claudius to head their delegation. "Eques", plural "equites", was the regular Latin word for a horseman or cavalryman. Cavalry units include "equites", "cunei" and old-style "alae". The Celtic horsemen's training was copied by the Roman equites. They included horse archers ("Equites Sagittarii"). The equestrians, the highest social class of all, served in mounted units known as "equites".