"GB's Arab Light cav usable as Turcopoles?" Topic

How big a stretch would it be to use Gripping Beasts Arab Light Cav/horse archers as Turcopoles?

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I bet they would work fine for you. Here is the link to the figures they have listed.

Most middle/dark ages armies can be reduced to: Crusader, Islamic, European, Mediterranean, or some mix of the four. Not perfect, but the reality is a lot of neutral colors (no colorfast dyes, people) and more or less the same equipment with cloak, turban, cowl, or other minimal token. Add a kite shield to an Bedouin, paint him grey or tan, paint a cross on, suddenly he's an Armenian Christian.

Fireforge has released a box of plastic Turcopoles.
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It helps that the GB "Arab" Light Cavalry are based on Turkomans, who are not Arabs. However, I think there are features which might rule them out.
Over on the SoA forum, there is mention that the source for Turkoman felt hats is link and that reconstructions have made them increasingly fez-like. The source is from the 14th century or later, which makes it a bit late for Turcoples. Earlier Turkomans seem to wear different things.

Exactly what Turcopoles wore is pretty much conjecture, which is why you see them wearing various things in different sources, though often a hybrid of Western and Eastern. The Eastern influences, though, are more likely to have been Turkic than Arab – and there is quite a difference. Both the GB and Fireforge Turcopoles do look a lot more suitable.

BTW, for those who could afford it, there would have been plenty of bright colours. There are surviving textiles from the period which still show decent colours after centuries.

Thanks everyone

There is a Turcople in Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291 by Ian Heath, probably influenced by a Icon of a Saint equipped as a Turcopole, St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, late 13th century
and an Icon of Saints Sergius & Bacchus equipped as Turcopoles, Acre, late 13th century. St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai.

mirror sites
Turcople in Armies and Enemies of the Crusades 1096-1291 by Ian Heath
Icon of a Saint equipped as a Turcopole, St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai, late 13th century
ne's Monastery, Sinai, late 13th century
Icon of Saints Sergius & Bacchus equipped as Turcopoles, Acre, late 13th century. St Catherine's Monastery, Sinai.

Druzhina
13th Century Illustrations of Costume & Soldiers