Early Hungarian Information on the Beginning of the Western Campaign of Batu (1235–1242)

Hautala, Roman (2016) Early Hungarian Information on the Beginning of the Western Campaign of Batu (1235–1242). Acta Orientalia Academiae Scientiarum Hungaricae, 69 (2). pp. 183-199. ISSN 0001-6446

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Abstract

The author of this article examines the gradual accumulation of information in the Hungarian Kingdom about the Mongol Western Campaign and the corresponding propagation of this information in Western Europe. The primary information was brought to Europe by the Dominican friar Julian after his return from his travel to the Volga Magyars at the end of 1235. The letter of friar Julian written at the beginning of 1238 is replete with information about Mongol tactical warfare, previous military campaigns of Chingis Khan and Jochi, and the first Mongol conquest in the early stages of the Western Campaign of Batu. He also brought an oral report of the Prince of Vladimir on the Mongol plans to attack the Hungarian Kingdom. Soon the content of Julian’s letter became known in Western Europe. The Hungarian King Béla IV started to make preparations for the imminent Mongol invasion and attempted to organise resistance.

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