Cuman Warriors in the Fight of Byzantium with the Latins

Author: István Vásáry

Source: Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, Volume 57, Number 3, 12 October 2004 , pp. 263-270(8)

Publisher: Akademiai Kiado

Key:

- Free Content

- New Content

- Subscribed Content

- Free Trial Content

Abstract:

From 1091 onwards the nomadic confederacy of the Cumans had played an eminent historical role in the Balkans. The present paper investigates the Cuman participation in the fight of Byzantium with the Latins, during and after the Fourth Crusade in 1204, and comes to the conclusion that the Cumans' historical role in the restoration of the Second Bulgarian Empire in 1185-1186 and in the following events of the upcoming two decades is undeniable. The Cumans had no strategic aims, their primary and short-time goal being robbery and pillage. Though their employment in campaigns and battles as mercenaries was of prime importance for both the Vlakho-Bulgarians and the Byzantines and the Latins, they did not present a real long-term menace to the statehood of either of the waring factions.

Keywords: Cumans; Byzantium; Latin Empire; Fourth Crusade

Document Type: Research article

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$22.66 plus tax Refund Policy