In early Germanic and Roman society, a retinue of armed followers or warriors bound by oath to a military leader.
Latin comitatus, from comes 'companion/count.' This term was used to describe the war bands of Germanic tribes and later became crucial to understanding medieval feudal structures and warrior culture.
The comitatus was essentially a warrior's social contract—men would pledge their lives to a leader, and in return, the leader would provide them with weapons, treasure, and glory. This system is why dying with your leader in battle was considered honorable rather than foolish; you'd sworn an oath to follow them even to death.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.