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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1998-05 > 0895151547


From: Leo van de Pas< >
Subject: Re: Re Tugor Khan
Date: 14 May 1998 06:12:27 -0700


>
>______Does anyone have any information on what became of the Cumans, I seem to
>recall reading something that said they ended up in Hungary and that there is
>still an ethnic group in existance who claim descent from them.?
>
>Does anyone know of other mailing lists which specialise in medieval European
>history. ? _______________________
>
>
>
Dear John,
Kuthen, Khan of The Cumans, was leader of the Cumans or Kuns,
a shamanist Turko-mongol tribe who controlled the steppes above
the Sea of Azov. Two of Ghenghis Khan's generals bribed the Cumans
but then secretly followed them, robbed them and killed Kuthen's
brother and son. Kuthen then made an alliance with princes of Southern
Russia, but they were again defeated by the Mongol generals and the
Prince of Kiev was captured. That night the two Mongol generals dined
on a box-shaped table inside which the captured Prince of Kiev and
two other Russian princes were gradually suffocating to death: this
was done out of respect, as "by Mongol tradition no man was worthy to
shed the blood of a prince except in battle".
When the main Mongol armies began a new invasion in 1238, Kuthen
took refuge in Hungary with 40,000 Cuman warriors and their families.
They were converted to Christianity and Kuthen engaged his daughter to
the future King Stephan V of Hungary. However, many Magyars mistrusted
him and, when the Mongols invaded Hungary in 1241, some Hungarian lords
massacred Kuthen together with his household at his quarters in Pest.

Kuthen's daughter, Elisabeth, in 1254 married Stephen V who, in 1270,
became King of Hungary. They had (at least) six children and their
descendants are to be found all over the world. No doubt the 40,000
Cuman warriors and their families have left descendants and, especially
in the early years, would have stuck together.
Hope this is some kind of an answer,
Best wishes
Leo van de Pas

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