Tell me about Turcopoles in Byzantine Empire. What were they?

They were basically half Greek, half Oghuz Turks that served Byzantine Empire. For some reasons some Turks converted to Christianity and married Greeks there, Turcopole literally means "son of turk" in Greek language.
>Why would they be Christian
I think Turks were not religious. Some of them could even be pagan (Considering the very recent conversion of Oghuz Turks to Islam and Seljuks being descended from Khazar/Nestorian people)

>>3141786
Oh and meaning of Turcopole was different in crusader states. Turcopole meant either christian arab cavalry or just light european cavalry (they didn't even have to be Turks or half Turk)

>>3141786
>>3141804
Interesting
Thank you!

>>3141772
The term originally meant "son of a Turk", but not in any swearing manner (not like "son of a bitch"). They were stereotypically of mixed Greek and Turkish parentage and Christian.

>>3141786
>Seljuks being descended from Khazar/Nestorian people)

To expand on that, Seljuq, the founder of the dynasty named his sons Mikail (Michael), Isrâîl (Israel), Mûsâ (Moses), and Yûnus (Jonah). The last two could be Muslim, but the first two indicate a Christian or Jewish faith pretty strongly.

>>3144972
>but the first two indicate a Christian or Jewish faith pretty strongly.

not really. you do realise that israel and archangel michael are pretty big in islam

>>3144845
The Greeks, as far as i know, called Half-Turkic Half Greek muslims in Anatolia "mixovarvaroi" which means "mixed barbarians"
pretty rude to be honest.

>>3144989
Israel literally means he who wrestles with god (allah)
no muslim would use that name. it's literally same as Abd-Al-Uzza

>>3145019
invading and repopulating territory is p rude tbf