The forces used by the Christian or Latin leaders in Syria were formed from a conglomeration of sources. Both the feudal system and changing conditions throughout the crusades made this necessary. The knights as discussed in the topic page on chivalry composed one portion of the army. It is important, however, to realize that while their influence remained important in the military tactics of the crusader states, their numbers dwindled towards the end of the crusades as the idea of the knight became increasingly associated with nobility and heredity of the title. When the influence of the knights was the weakest, other sources were found to supplement the knight in the army.