Editing Turcopole (section)

== Composition ==
It has been argued that, while Turcopoles certainly included light cavalry and [[mounted archers]], the term was a general one also applicable to indigenous Syrian footmen serving as feudal levies in the [[Kingdom of Jerusalem]].<ref>{{cite book |first=R. C. |last=Small |title=Crusading Warfare 1097–1193 |date=27 October 1994 |pages=111–112 |isbn=978-0-521-48029-1 }}</ref> Evidence that Syrian levies, whether designated as turcoples or not, provided the bulk of the ''Frankish'' ([[Western Europe]]an) led infantry of Outremer is not available but there are specific references to their participation in the [[Siege of Tripoli]] by [[Raymond de Saint-Gilles]].<ref>Ian Heath, page 6 "Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291", Wargames Research Group Publication</ref>

The Turcopoles employed by the crusader states were not necessarily Turkish or [[mixed-race]] mercenaries. Many were probably recruited from Christianized [[Seljuqs]], or from [[Syrian Orthodox]] Christians living under crusader rule. By the second half of the 12th century the recorded names of individual Turcoples indicate that some were ''Poulains'' (Syrian-born Franks),<ref>A twelfth century term designating Latin Christian settlers in the [[crusader states]] of the Middle East. Poulains in this context were the Frankish descendants of those original crusaders who had remained in Palestine after the capture of Jerusalem in 1099.</ref> as well as European Franks.<ref>Ian Heath, page 7 "Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291", Wargames Research Group Publication</ref> In addition to indigenous Christians and converted Turks, the Turcopoles of Outremer may at various dates have included contingents from the west trained to serve as mounted archers.<ref> J. Richard, ''Les Turcoples au service des royaumes de Jerusalem et de Chypre: Musulmans converted ou Chretiens orientaux?'', Melanges Dominique Sourdel/Revue des estates islamiques</ref>