The Cumans, also known as Polovtsy (Slavic for yellowish) were a nomadic West Turkic tribe living on the north of the Black Sea along the Volga. They are identified with the Western branch of the Kipchaks.

They invaded Southern Ukraine, Moldova, Wallachia and part of Transylvania in the 11th century and from here they continued their plundering of the Byzantine Empire, Hungary and Kievan Rus'.

In 1089, they were defeated by Ladislaus I of Hungary, then they were again defeated by Vladimir Monomakh in the 12th century and crushed by the Tatars in 1241. Many took refuge in Hungary and Bulgaria, where they were assimilated. Their name can still be seen in placenames such as the city of Kumanovo in Macedonia and Comana in Dobrudja. Cumans having settled in Hungary had their own self-government there, and their name is still preserved in the county names Bács-Kiskun and Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok, and town names Kiskunhalas , Kiskunszentmiklós as well. The Cumans from the current Russia joined the khanate of the Golden Horde.

In the 13th century, Western Cumans became Catholic Christians, while Eastern assumed Islam. Catholic "Diocese of the Cumans" included Romania and Moldova. This title was kept until 1523. The principality of Wallachia was established by Basarab I, son of the Cumanian warlord Tihomir at the beginning of the 14th century. The name Basarab is considered as being of Cuman origin, meaning "Father King".

For Russian battles with the Polovtsi, see the Battle of the Stugna River, the Battle of the Kalka River, and the Tale of Igor's Campaign. Polovtsian Dances is a theme in Alexander Borodin's opera Prince Igor.

See also

• Codex Cumanicus
• Cuman language
• Kipchak

External links

• Catholics and Cumans
• Codex Cumanicus