What is a Medieval term for a mounted well-equipped soldier?

Answer 1

I think knight

=================================================

"Knight" is only a partial answer. Medieval lords of high rank (Earls, Dukes, Counts) would certainly have a large number of high-ranking knights (barons) who owed them military service in return for huge land-holdings provided by their particular feudal lord. Each of these knights would be able to call upon knights of lower status who in turn owed service to them.

But there was also a class of troops who were not knights, known collectively as serjantz (nothing to do with the modern rank of sergeant - it derives from Latin servus, a servant). These were split into professional full-time serjantz who served as crossbowmen, archers, spearmen and even mounted cavalry (with much less expensive kit than knights); and also part-time serjantz who could be called upon to serve for 40 days in time of emergency.

This last group were effectively ordinary freemen: burgesses, tradesmen, craftsmen, merchants, shopkeepers and others who had a reasonable income and could equip themselves with a mail coat, helmet and spear. They owed military service as part of their Feudal obligations.

Answer 2

The heavily armed mounted soldiers were called knights in English. The old term was cataphracts. The word in French was chevalier, and in German it was Ritter.

Answer 3

Knight Serrant