In the course of the 12th century, knighthood became a social rank with a distinction being made between milites gregarii (non-noble cavalrymen) and milites nobiles (true knights). As the term "knight" became increasingly confined to denoting a social rank, the military role of fully armoured cavalryman gained a separate term, "man-at-arms". Although any medieval knight going to war would automatically serve as a man-at-arms, not all men-at-arms were knights.
In the course of the 12th century knighthood became a social rank with a distinction being made between milites gregarii (non-noble cavalrymen) and milites nobiles (true knights) As the term "knight" became increasingly confined to denoting a social rank the military role of fully armoured cavalryman gained a separate term "man-at-arms" Although any medieval knight going to war would automatically serve as a man-at-arms not all men-at-arms were knights