Henchmen level up like heroes (and can get the same abilities and so as your heroes can wear chain and plate, your henchmen can wear the same type of items.
Henchmen like heroes do not die. henchmen like heroes have inventories, henchmen unlike heroes do not divide experience when having multiple ones in your armies. Thus, you can create all "hero armies".
Trained from a fortress (and choose defender), you have just trained a henchman with chain armor. Of course you have to purchase that armor or get it from another person holding such armor, but it is possible. Basically with the right fortress, producing a henchman you can create a decent starting hero to use (or replace a highly injured hero) The henchman can also grab all goodie huts and go on quests. With proper planning henchman can be worth while.
