Elmи мяъмуяси

 Gökçe Yükselen Abdurrazak Peler 

440 

hand the second group of scholars claim the opposite, insisting on that  the 

15

th

 and 16

th

 century Cuman villages were exactly the same as contemporary 

Hungarian villages (Selmeczi 1976: 255-56). 

4.6.2. Cuman – Qipchaqs in Bulgaria 

Cuman – Qipchaqs started to resettle in Bulgaria in 1150’s, and they led 

the Wallachian – Bulgarian revolt against the Byzantines, which resulted in 

the establishment of the second Bulgarian Kingdom in 1185

45

 (Pritsak 1982: 

373). However, there is no record of Cuman – Qipchaq settlement or 

migration in the Balkans in great numbers before 1237. The Cuman – 

Qipchaq presence in the region prior to this date was constituted of military 

leaders with their retinue. As a result of the major Mongol assault on Eastern 

Europe in 1236 a big wave of Cuman – Qipchaqs appeared on Bulgarian soil 

in the summer of 1237. The Bulgarian king Ivan Asen II, could not stop 

them and he had to let them march towards south through Bulgaria 

plundering and pillaging whole of Thrace as far as Hadrianoupolis. These 

same Cuman – Qipchaqs were requited by the Latins of Constantinople in 

1240 and this is the last information on this group of Cuman – Qipchaqs 

(Vasary 2005: 63-65). 

The second large wave of Cuman – Qipchaqs came in 1241, this time 

from the direction of Hungary. Kotjan’s assassination

46

 in Pest provoked 

Cuman – Qipchaqs and they started to plunder the countryside, moving 

southwards. After crossing the border into Bulgaria they settled in Vidin and 

Branichevo

47

. The two Bulgarian boyar families, the Shishmans in Vidin and 

the Dormans in Branichevo, were from these Cuman – Qipchaqs (Vasary 

2005: 65). It is beyond doubt that these two Cuman – Qipchaq waves must 

have caused havoc amongst the contemporary inhabitants of Bulgaria, but 

                                                 

45

 For detailed information on the Cuman – Qipchaq presence in the region prior to 1186 see 

Vasary 2005: 17-22. 

46

 Presence of Cuman-speaking cavalrymen (who were from the Cuman – Qipchaq groups 

incorporated into the Mongolian hordes) among Mongol captives supported Babenberg 

Fridrik’s claims that Kotjan was a Mongol spy. Hungarians provoked by Germen 

propaganda revolted and killed Kotjan. This caused Cuman – Qipchaqs to break off from 

the Hungarians leaving them alone against the Mongols at the battle of Mohi, where they 

were destroyed (Rasonyi 1939: 411). 

47

 Rasonyi (1939: 411) notes that a great proportion of these Cuman – Qipchaqs returned to 

Hungary after the Mongols withdrew as King Bela IV, who was in urgent need of 

manpower against the threats of Babenberg Fridrik, invited them. 

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Some Notes on the History, the Culture and the Language of the Medieval Qipchaq - Cuman Turks 

441 

still the most important impact of the Cuman – Qipchaqs on the Bulgarian 

society is the first three dynasties of the Second Bulgar Kingdom from 

Cuman – Qipchaq origin: the Asens (1185-1280), the Terters (1280-1323) 

and the Shishmans (1323-1396)

48

. 

4.6.3. Cuman – Qipchaqs in Serbia 

The appearance of Cuman – Qipchaqs in Serbia for the first time was in 

1276 at Gacko

49

 as the auxiliary forces of the Hungarian king Stephen V, 

who was supporting his son in law Stefan Dragutin

50

 against his father King 

Stefan Urosh I (Vasary 2005: 100).  

The second important appearance of the Cuman – Qipchaqs on the 

Serbian scene is with the destruction of the city of Zhidcha

51

 by them around 

1292. The Cuman – Qipchaq forces, who entered Serbia as auxiliaries in the 

1270’s, remained in the region afterwards fighting on the sides of the 

different fractions of the Serbian internecine strife. Like any nomadic force 

they plundered and pillaged at will devastating the countryside and the city 

of Zhidcha received its share as well. The city remained in ruins for many 

years until it was renovated by King Stefan Urosh II sometime before 1309. 

However the city had never been able to recover fully (Vasary 2005: 100-

101). 

4.6.4. Cuman – Qipchaqs in Georgia 

The first emergence of Cuman – Qipchaqs in Georgian history on a 

greater scale was in 1118, when Davit’ II Aghashenebeli decided to call in 

the Cuman – Qipchaqs against the advancing Seljukids. A massive Cuman – 

Qipchaq population under the leadership of Sharuqanid Äträk / Ötrök, who 

                                                 

48

 For detailed information on the Cuman – Qipchaq origins of the Asenovich dynasty see 

Vasary 2005: 38-42. For claims on the Wallachian or Bulgarian origins of the same dynasty 

see Vasary 2005: 34-38. For the origins of the Terterovich and Shishmanovich dynasties 

see Vasary 2005: 65-66. Rasonyi (1939: 422) adds Eltimirs as well to the list of Bulgarian 

dynasties from Cuman – Qipchaq origin. 

49

 Gacko, today known as Gacko or Gatachko Polje, was an important commercial centre of 

the period, in Hercegovina on the Dubrovnik – Focha route (Vasary 2005: 100). 

50

 Stefan Dragutin was married to King Stephen V’s daughter Catherine, who was Cuman – 

Qipchaq from her maternal side. Catherine’s mother Elisabeth was the daughter of the 

Cuman – Qipchaq chief Seyhan. After the death of King Stefan V, his son Ladislas IV the 

Cuman sat on the Hungarian throne and continued to support his brother-in-law Dragutin 

(Vasary 2005: 99-100). 

51

 Zhidcha had been the see of the Serbian Church until 1253, when it was transferred to Pec 

by Archbishop Arsenije. 

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