The learned were chosen soldiers from the friendly or allied troops, who in the Roman wars always went with the consul, forming part of his guard, which, besides being an honor paid to the high magistrate, allowed to have in sight to main characters who respond to the loyalty of the respective contingents. Polybius gave them the name of aplektoi, which Justo Lipsio translated by ablecti.
They never formed a special body, as some authors have claimed; were soldiers selected from the contingents of the allied nations, who were outside the cadres (extra ordinem), for which reason they were called extraordinarii. The allies, in addition to the main contingents, provided four extraordinary cohorts (1600 horses) and two extraordinary wings (600 horses)
In the Roman army, the most powerful warriors formed the Praetorian cohort, consisting of chosen horsemen (epilektoi), young knights and veterans in service (evocati) to which the general could add a number of horsemen, also chosen among which composed the wings of the allies; but these, as seen, did not form a special body, but joined the Praetorian cohort.
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