Quote Originally Posted by HunterGreen View Post
You don't literally have to have been promoted in a structured military hierarchy, you just have to a) have a follower, and b) be the sort of person that others would follow. That could happen as part of, say, the Dol Amroth Swan-Knights, but it could also happen by being one of a small mercenary company, who happened to take the lead.
Right - in LotR anyone who leads men into battle is described as a "Captain".