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Turcopole
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{{Short description|Recruits by the Byzantines and crusaders}} [[File:Turcopole, 12th century.jpg|thumb|A 12th century turcopole, historical re-enactment]] During the period of the [[Crusades]], '''turcopoles''' (also "turcoples" or "turcopoli"; from the {{langx|el|τουρκόπουλοι}}, literally "sons of Turks")<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/oi/authority.20110803105058363|title=Tourkopouloi}}</ref> 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 Saint John|Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem]], in charge of the coastal defences of Rhodes and Malta.<ref>Whitworth Porter, ''History of the Knights of Malta, or The Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem'', p.287[https://books.google.com/books?id=bR9aAQAAQBAJ&dq=John+Pavely+Turcopolier&pg=PA287]</ref> 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'''''.<ref>{{cite book |first=David |last=Nicolle |page=47 |title=Hattin 1187. Saladin's Greatest Victory |date=28 January 1993 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-85532-284-4}}</ref>
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