comes

Comes (plural comites), translated as count, was a Roman title, generally linked to a comitatus or comital office.

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Contents

Ancient Roman religion
Imperial Roman curial titles and offices styled ''comites''
At court or in the Imperial domains
''Comes rei militaris''
Comites dominorum nostrorum
Medieval adaptations of comital offices
Gothic ''Comites''
Frankish ''Gaugraf''
Feudalism
See also
References

Comes (plural comites), translated as count, was a Roman title, generally linked to a comitatus or comital office.

The word comes originally meant "companion" or "follower", deriving from "com-" ("with") and "ire" ("go"). The special lasting meaning derives from the position of a follower within a comitatus, which was a retinue, or group of followers, such as those of magnates. In some instances these were sufficiently large and/or formal to justify specific denomination, such as a "cohors amicorum".