You may be thinking of the Mamelukes, Bruce, though most of them weren't
neutered. Baibars the Panther and friends overthrew their Egyptian masters
in the 11th or 12 Century CE. They were slaves translocated from what is
now southern Russia. A fascinating period of history, it was during one of
the Crusades led by one of the earlier French kings named Louis. Most of
these same crusaders had earlier participated in the destruction of some
"heretics" known as the Cathars or Albigensians in the south of France.
The Mamelukes packed the few surviving Crusaders onto boats after a large
ransom had been paid.
Some say that the Cathar teachings survived to influence later mystics.
Cheers, Andrew
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andrew at pcug.org.au http://www.tip.net.au/~andrew
"Let them that know look to the skies and to the Earth,
for they are the measure of a man and a woman. Let them
that know the changing seasons be wise in the mysteries
of their own being, for that which is without and can
be seen, is also that which is invisible within."
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