UNCOVERED: the earliest attestation of  ‘Minions’ as followers of the mighty seeking to follow a boss and to lay waste to the establishment in Vergil‘s Aeneid (10.182–4, translation from here [slightly altered]; summary overview of the context available here).

A minion in ancient Rome. (Artist unknown)

ter centum adiciunt (mens omnibus una sequendi)
qui Caerete domo, qui sunt Minionis in aruis,
et Pyrgi ueteres intempestaeque Grauiscae.

Three hundred more (minded to follow as one) were added
by those with their home in Caere, the fields
of the Minion, ancient Pyrgi, unhealthy Graviscae.