Political History of Kumans            

         
       Therefore, Kumans appear for the first time in Russian chronicles in 1054. In this period when their dominance was spread as far as Dnieper, while they maintained "Kipchak" name in the east, they began to be called with the aforementioned names in the west. Kuman (Kipchak) dominance in Northern Black Sea steppes for more than 1.5 centuries until Mongol invasion left deep traces in Russian and Balkan history. Kumans defeated Russians in 1061 after leader Bolus who agreed with Pereyaslavl Knez in 1055, and in 1068, entered Pereyaslavl again on grounds that they took some Uz and Pacheneg groups fleeing them under their service and routed united army of Russian Knezes (Alta river war, near Kiyef); they approached near Cernigo knev country. Kiyef Knez escaped to Poland. Kumans (Kipchaks) who made raids on Rostovstev, Neyatin region in 1071, Voin town in 1079, and Novgorod area the next year, spread their dominance in 1080's as far as Danube mouth from Balkas lake-Talas vicinity, balance center being Don-Dniester.

 

       This land which contained Kuban region in Caucasus was extending as far as Itıl Bulgarian border along Oka-Sura rivers in the north. Kuman-Kipchak area which constituted the whole Eastern Europe-Western Siberia Steppe regions were called "Deşt-i Kipchak" ("Kipchak Steppe") in Islam sources therefrom, and was named "Comania" in western sources (Idrisi, Rubruquis, Plano Carpini etc.) For D. Rassovsky'ye, in this period when Russians, Bulgars, Alans, Burtases (Mordva), Hazars and Ulahs lived under dominance of Ulahs, Kuman-Kipchak country consisted of 5 parts: Middle Asia, Churn-Volga, Don-Donetz, lower Dnieper, Danube.

 

       There Kuman-Kipchaks were living under different units under governance of their own leaders (khans) each, and the allies of Byzantium in Lebunium war were undoubtedly the members of "Danube" unit. In those times, leaders named Altunapa and sarııhan were primary people who played a role in "Kipchak Steppe". Kumans first entered Hungaria in1091 and then Poland in 1092, they appeared again in Byzantium territorias in 1093.

 

       Their raids on Russian region continued between 1093 and 1094 too. It is understood that they did not aim at invading territories. As we saw in Pachenegs, they did not leave steppe atmosphere like in all steppe-Turk political community including Hazars, and tried to maintain under pressure the political communities beyond the steppes in order to keep away from external hazards by keeping land appropriate for their own lifestyles.

 

        Peaces realized within the conditions of Turkish territory security used to last as long as the opposite party did not break his promise. Such condition consolidated marriages sometimes. According to an agreement, Tugorkan (or Togur Khan)'s daughter married to Kiyef Knez Svyatopolk (1094); and after that, Cernigov Knez Oleg married to leader Osuluk (Uzluk)'s daughter. Thus, most of the wifes of Knezes and notables were consisting of Kuman princesses and daughters in a period. However, Kuman-Russian relations were not at ease. Because, Knezes tried to provide support from Kumans in their struggles (for example Oleg in 1095) or eliminated the men of Kuman leader with them as soon as they found the opportunity. Two envoys sent to Kiyef in early 1096 (itler and Kitan) were killed with their retinues. The event caused a war. Tugorkan and leader Kure burned some towns, and looted Kiyef and vicinity (May 1096).

 

       However, they lost the war against Knez alliance, Tugorkan and his son died in the war. Kiyef prince Vladimir Monomakli whose two sons were married to the daughters of Kuman leaders behaved more seriously and tried to reconcile Knezes with his general meetings arranged in Liyubec town in 1097 and organize Russian resistance and won a great success against Kumans leading all Knezes in 110/3. Kumans replied with violent attacks in short intervals (4 times between 1105 and 1111). Such struggles filled Russian chronicles and enriched first Russian folk literature. After death of 4th Monomakh, when conflicts between Knezes grew violent again, Kumans could not make use of that. Kuman union in the vicinity of Kiyef which lost its youth and resistant resisting leaders one by one during constant conflicts showed signs of weekness.

 

       Some of the Danube commanders were performing military service in Hungary going there. In the second half of 12th century, we saw that Dnieper Kumans got some better. Those took the offensive against Pereyaslavl Knez country under leadership of Koncek and Kobyak (Kopek) (1177, 1179). Those in the vicinity of Aksu (Bug) made raids toward Kiyef, but were defeated by joint Russian forces in a violent raid led by Knez Svyatoslav in 1184. Rumor has it that they lost 7000 captives among whom there was 417 beys or sons of beys. However, the reaction of Kumans was harsh: They destoryed joint Russian army under the command of Novgorod-Seversk Knez Igor by pressing near lower Don at the coast of Kayali (today's Kagalnik) river. In this war commanded by Leader Koncek, all of the Knezes in Russian army including prince Igor were caught.

 

       They behaved the captives well, and the injuries of Igor, who managed to escape afterwards, was treated. The main subject of Russian national epic (Slovo o Polkii Igoreve) told to be the masterpiece of Russian literature is this 1185 conflict. In this Igor epic, the details of the expedition, nature, heroism, sadness, the cries of Igor's wife were all told skillfully. There emerged some allegations that the text, which was published several times since its first publication in 1800 in Russia, was improvised afterwards, however, there is no doubt that it reflects the historical event and it has a documentary value because it showed Turkish influence on Russians in terms of language, war technique, equipment, mining etc.

to be continued