Editing Turcopole (section)

== Equipment ==
In the [[Holy Land]], Turcopoles were more lightly equipped than the [[knights]] and [[sergeants]] (mounted [[men at arms]]), being armed with [[lance]]s and [[Bow and arrow|bow]]s to help combat the more mobile Muslim forces. The Turcopoles served as light cavalry providing [[skirmisher]]s, scouts, and [[mounted archers]], and sometimes rode as a second line in a charge, to back up the ''Frankish'' knights and sergeants.<ref>{{cite book |first=David|last=Nicolle|title=Knights Hospitaller (1) 1100-1306|date=25 July 2001|page=40|isbn=978-1-84176-214-2 }}</ref> Turcopoles had lighter and faster horses than the western mounted troops and wore much lighter armour. Usually this comprised only a quilted ''[[aketon]]'' or jerkin and a conical steel helmet.<ref>{{cite book |first=Terrence |last=Wise |title=The Knights of Christ |date=22 November 1984 |page=34 |isbn=0-85045-604-5 }}</ref> Regulations of the Hospitallers made a clear distinction between the heavy war saddles of the knights of the military order and the "Turkish saddles" issued to the Syrian Turcoples who served with them.<ref>{{cite book |first=David|last=Nicolle|title=Knights Hospitaller (1) 1100-1306|date=25 July 2001|page=30|isbn=978-1-84176-214-2 }}</ref>