Information on the thesis

SUMMARY

Tymar I. I. The image of the Cumans in Polish historical thought of the
XI th -XV th centuries. – Qualifying scientific work as a manuscript.
A thesis for a scientific degree of the candidate of historical sciences (PhD/
doctor of philosophy). Specialty 07.00.02. – World History. – Ivan Franko National
University of Lviv. – Lviv, 2021.
The dissertation is devoted to the research on the image of the Cumans (also
known as Polovtsy in Slavic tradition) formed in Polish sources of the XI th –XV th
centuries. All recorded mentions of the Cumans in Polish sources of the XI th –XV th
centuries are collected and analysed. A comparative analysis of them and the sources
of other countries is carried out. The analysis of Polish narratives shows that in
Poland during the XI th –XV th centuries nomads from the East were not of much
interest, they were mentioned sporadically, albeit with the certain frequency.
Although the information about them in the annals (yearbooks) is rare, Polish
chroniclers without much interest, however, repeatedly noted the presence of the
Cumans in the lands of the Piast dynasty, applying to them the descriptions typical of
medieval Eastern Roman (Byzantine), German, Hungarian historiography. 46
mentions of the Polovtsy-Cumans in J. Długosz’s Annales are analysed separately.
The origin of each of these mentions is determined and compared with the original
source, on the basis of which borrowings, errors, distortions, as well as the late
medieval author’s own systematised vision of the image of the nomads are identified.
The information from Polish sources about the Ugric nomads and the
Pechenegs is considered; it served as a basis for the formation of the image of the
later famous Cumans. It is ascertained that the Poles knew the nomadic past of the
Hungarian neighbour, and it was not emphasized in Polish sources; on the contrary,
there was a local legendary tradition of identifying the Hungarian ancestor with the
Slavic Attila. We consider the reason for this is the Piasts’ interest in presenting of
the Hungrians as the already Christianised equal neighbour, with whom there were
constant contacts, including marriages.
The first known contact of the Piast dynasty with the Pechenegs is the
participation of the latter ones in the campaigns of Boleslaw I against Rus’ in 1013
and 1018. Brief references to these events testify to the disrespectful attitude towards
the nomads. The analysis of a missionary’s letter to Emperor Henry II, where he
personally conveyed his impressions of the expedition to the Steppe, is valuable as it
is the first source-recorded contact of a representative of Christendom with the pagan
Pechenegs. Bruno’s accounts clearly influenced the perception of these nomads in
Christendom as well as in Poland.

In order to understand the origins of forming the image of the Cumans, an
attention is focused on the various interactions of the nomads with the lands of the
Piast dynasty. The military and political relations between the Poles and the Cumans
at the intersection of regular ties with Rus’, Hungary, and the Czech are analysed. For
example, it is found out that the steppe dwellers and the Poles repeatedly met in the
territories possessed by the Rurikids, and on different sides of numerous conflicts.
This is especially true of the first half of the XIII th century during the inter-dynastic
fight for the land of Galicia. After the death of Frederick I Babenberg on June 15,
1246, in the struggle for Austrian lands, Polish troops were allies with the nomads in
several campaigns or enemies of the nomads in some of them. The Cuman units of
Hungarian troops were the most active participants in the conflict. The genealogies of
the Piasts and the Rurikids, the marital relations of the latter ones with the Cumans,
are studied. In this way, four cases of marriages of the representatives of the Piast
dynasty to the descendants of the Cumans and Rus’ marriages in the second and third
generations are identified. Polish toponymy is analysed, the names of Turkic origin in
the territory of the Piast state are systematised and cartographically recorded.
Keywords: the Cumans, the Piast dynasty, source, contacts, image, chronicle,
analysis, annals, comparisons, prince.