New 28mm Turcopoles by Curteys Minatures

The Turcopoles were first encountered by the Crusaders during the 1st crusade while fighting for the Byzantines. These auxiliary cavalry were recruited from  mixed Greek and Turkish origin, but  later when employed by the Crusaders  were probably recruited from converted Seljuk Turks or Christian Syrians .

28mm Curteys Miniatures Turcopoles with bow ME60

Primarily employed as light cavalry   armed with light lance and bows the Turcopoles would usualy be found acting as skirmishers, scouts, and mounted archers, used  but on occasion could be as rear ranks in a charge to support the Frankish Crusading knights.

28mm Curteys Miniatures Turcopoles with spear ME57

Turcopole style light cavalry could be found serving throughout the Holy Land fighting for both military order and the secular armies of Outremer.
Following the expulsion of  the military orders out of the Holy Land Turcopole light cavalry  were established on  Cyprus with the Knights Templar on Rhodes and Malta with the Knights Hospitaller, while the Teutonic Knights called its own northern native light cavalry 'Turcopolen'.this pobably reflects the transformation from an ethnic origin to a name associated with the actions performed by troops of a certain type.

The 28mm Turcopole figures shown are the first 2 packs available towards our ever expanding range of C13th medieval figures, more packs including Turcopole command, Turcopoles armed with hand weapon or throwing spear and Turcopole archers loading are in the pipeline.