Turcopole

The Turkopolen ( gr Turkopouloi - sons of Turks) were a light cavalry in the Middle East during the time of the Crusades by the Franks, but also by the Byzantines, was used as auxiliary troops.

When the Knights Templar are Turkopolen since the mid-12th century occupied. They were initially recruited from the ranks of the indigenous Christian population, that is, it had at least one parent to be Christian. This scheme but was increasingly abandoned in later years. The Turkopolen shared the battle, the Muslim cavalry light that constantly showered the enemy with arrows and avoid a direct confrontation in the melee was looking for.

The German order called his light cavalry units recruited from locals also Turkopolen.