Editing Turcopole (section)

== Employment by military orders ==
Turcopoles served in both the secular armies of [[Outremer]] and the ranks of the [[Military order (society)|military orders]]. In the latter, Turcopoles had lower status than the Frankish sergeants and were subject to various restrictions. These included having to eat at a separate table from the other mounted soldiers of the [[Templars]] or [[Knights Hospitaller]]. In contrast to the unsalaried brother-knights and brother-sergeants of the fighting orders, Turcopoles were paid warriors.<ref>{{cite book |first=Alan |last=Foley |page=5 |chapter=Paid Troops in the Service of the Military Orders during the Twelfth and Thirteenth Centuries |title=The Crusader World }}</ref>

An indication of the approximate numbers of Turcopoles available to the military orders is given by a pledge made by the Hospitallers in 1186, when an invasion of Egypt was being planned. Of a total Hospitaller contingent of 1,000 men, half were to be Turcopoles.<ref>{{cite book |first=David |last=Nicolle |page=52 |title=Hattin 1187. Saladin's Greatest Victory |isbn=978-1-85532-284-4}}</ref>