Back Turcople AN تركوبلي Arabic Türkopol Azerbaijani Туркополи Bulgarian Turcople Catalan Turkopolové Czech Turkopolen German Τουρκόπουλοι Greek Turcopolo Spanish تورکوپول Persian
During the period of the Crusades, turcopoles (also "turcoples" or "turcopoli"; from the Greek: τουρκόπουλοι, literally "sons of Turks")[1] were locally recruited mounted archers and light cavalry employed by the Byzantine Empire and the Crusader states. A leader of these auxiliaries was designated as Turcopolier, a title subsequently given to a senior officer in the Knights Templars and the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, in charge of the coastal defences of Rhodes and Malta.[2] In addition to the two Military Orders, the army of the Kingdom of Jerusalem employed king's turcoples under the direction of a Grand Turcopolier.[3]
- ^ "Tourkopouloi".
- ^ Whitworth Porter, History of the Knights of Malta, or The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, p.287[1]
- ^ Nicolle, David. Hattin 1187. Saladin's Greatest Victory. p. 47. ISBN 978-1-85532-284-4.