Cumans
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Cumans, also called as Polovtsy, (Russian Половцы, from old Slavic for pale yellowish) was the European name for the Western Kipchaks, a nomadic West Turkic tribe living on the north of the Black Sea along the Volga.
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History
The Cumans invaded southern Ukraine, Moldavia, Wallachia, and part of Transylvania in the 11th century and then continued their plundering of the Byzantine Empire, Hungary, and Kievan Rus'.
In 1089, they were defeated by Ladislaus I of Hungary. They were allied with the Vlachs (Romanians) and the Bulgarians during the Vlach-Bulgar Rebellion, being victorious in fights against the Byzantine Empire. They were defeated by Vladimir Monomakh in the 12th century and crushed by the Tatars in 1238. Many took refuge in Hungary, Bulgaria, and the Byzantine Empire. After many clashes with Hungarians, they eventually fled Hungary to join others in Bulgaria. A large segment of Cumans were re-invited back to Hungary and subsequently led the revolt that founded Wallachia. The Cumans from what is now Russia joined the khanate of the Golden Horde.
In the 13th century, the Western Cumans became Catholic Christians, while the Eastern Cumans converted to Islam. The Catholic "Diocese of the Cumans", founded in Milcov in 1227 and including what is now Romania and Moldova, retained its title until 1523.
The Cumans had an important role in the establishing of the principality of Wallachia, its earliest rulers being of Cuman origin. Basarab I, son of the Cuman warlord Tihomir of Wallachia obtained independence from Hungary at the beginning of the 14th century. The name Basarab is considered as being of Cuman origin, meaning "Father King".
Legacy
While the Cumans were assimilated, their name can still be seen in placenames such as the city of Kumanovo in Macedonia, Comăneşti in Romania and Comana in Dobruja. Cumans having settled in Hungary had their own self-government there, and their name (kun) is still preserved in the county names Bács-Kiskun and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, and town names as (eg.) Kiskunhalas, Kiskunszentmiklós as well.
Also, toponyms of Cuman language origin can be found especially in the Romanian counties of Vaslui and Galaţi, including the names of both counties.
In the countries where the Cumans were assimilated, family names derived from the words for "Cuman" (such as coman or kun) are not uncommon. Among the people that have such a name are Romanian gymnast Nadia Comăneci, Romanian poet Otilia Coman (Ana Blandiana) and Romanian football player Gigel Coman.
For the Russian relations with the Polovtsi, see the Battle of the Stugna River, the Battle of the Kalka River, and the Tale of Igor's Campaign. A set of Polovtsian Dances occurs in Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor.
Further reading
- Vasary, Istvan (2005) "Cumans and Tatars", Cambridge University Press
See also
External links
de:Kyptschaken fr:Kiptchak hu:Kunok it:Cumani ja:クマン人 ko:쿠만인 nl:Koemanen pl:Połowcy pt:Cumanos ru:Половцы uk:Половці zh:欽察