Ethnic History of Central Asia: Cumans

Kumans

Kuman name, Origin and Racial Features

Kumans, national composition and the meaning and origin of whose name is being discussed for years are cited under different names in sources. Therefore, they constitute an exception in Turkish societies living insteppes. Byzantines and Latins call them "Kumanos, Kumanoi, Cumanus, Ko-mani", Russians "Polovets", Germans and other Western nations "Falben, Falones, Valani, Valwen, Pallidi", and Armenians "Khartes,", Hungarians "Kun", Muslims "Kipcak" (Kifsak, Khifcakli). The names given by Russians, Germans, other Westerners and Armenians express in fact their color (yello, yellowish, light yellow, straw yellow). In the Russian chronicles where their name is recorded first (memorials of 1055 and 1056), Kumans, who were told to be of the same origin with Turkmens, Pachenegs and Torks (Uzes), were wanted to be defined with rather their outer appearance. Indeed, all sources either of eastern or western origin agree that Kumans were blond with brown hair.

Ibn Hurdadbih (in 885) explained the name Kipchak as ("angry, quick-tempered") in Islamic and Georgian sources and said that Kuman and Kun names meant "yellowish" and "pale" in Turkish dialects. J. Marquart, who conducted the first broad investigation on the origin of Kuman-Kipchaks, alleged that they were from "Kun" clan of Mongol tribe named "Murqa" which he claimed to have lived in the vicinity of Amur river in far east, was not accepted because he read some of the words in the source incorrectly and thought the word "firka" meaning party in Arabic was a name of a nation called "Murqa". This is because, Kumans faces and bodies did not bear any Mongol characteristics and there was no Mongol elements in Kuman-Kipchak language. However, some investigators who examined the racial properties of Kumans established some relations between them and Ariyan races (Indian-Europeans). Some westerner scientists including j. Marquart, P. Pelliot, W. Barthold, D. Rassovsky etc. whom we know that they are not successful in distinguishing both racilaly and culturally Turks from Mongols, stressed that Kuman character which they thought not to pertain to Turks may have derived from an Indian-European nation which became Turks in Mongol region at last.

Even Russian Grum-Grzimajlo dared to claim such society lived in northern China. It was stated that in 2nd century B.C. there was a tribe mentioned in Chinese sources (Khan period) as "brown haired, blue-green eyed" named Wu-sun (or U-sun) which continued their existence after the birth of Christ with a wolf myth which was peculiar to Turks and who were from Hun origin and culture who were called as "Kun-mo" or "Kun-mi" (Kunbeg, Kunbi?) living between the northern slopes of Tanri mountains and Isik Lake in 2nd century B.C. On the other hand, the Islam sources (El Birun about 1050, Mervezi, first quarter of 12th century) reveal that a Turkish tribe named Kun in Middle Asia withdrew to "Sarilar �lkesi (Country of the Yellow" (�arya) leaving their territories on the attempt of Mongol Kitan state, which was established in Nornther Chine in early 10th century, to conquer the whole continent as Liao destiny in China in 936 in particular. The relation of those Kuns, with "Yellows", with the same meaning, was weighed: For Mervezi, at least a part of Yellows or "Yellow Uygurs" (see Kan-�ou Uygur State) who withdrew as far as Aral lake can be associated with "Sa Turgises" which were supposed to be in "Sarigh" town mentioned by Ibn Hurdadbih. Moreover, there are steppes on the way thought to be extended by Kimek country, recorded by Gerdizi as (Ulu Kuman?).

According to the last investigaitons on Kun-Kuman-Yellow Kipchak issue, the situation is as follows: Oghuzes between Itil-Seyhun-Irti� in Middle Asia (before Kuman's migration to west), Kipchaks in the vicinity of i�im and Kimeks toward Altays; Karluks around Isik Lake, and Yellow Uygurs were to further east in Nan-�an region (Sariya in Mervezi). There were Christian Onguts in the vicinity of Huang-ho turn. Kuns were living in those places at those times (Because Mervezi, probably, confusing with Onguts, say that Kums were Christians). Kuns (Kumans) who went to "San" drove with them a mass of Yellow Uygurs and went to Turkmen (Karluk) region from Cungarya gate and then entered Kipchak region in the north. If it is possible to associate the news in Ibn'ul Esir that 300 thousand tents of people went out of China" and wanted to attack Karahanli country but was drawn back by Karahanli Togan Bey at 8-day distance to Balasagun, then we have to accept that the reason turning kun-yellow migration to Kipcak territories should be Karahanli resistance and counter-attack.

In fact, Kipchak mass from Western Gok-Turk societies were a branch from Kimes in Irtis region inhabited in isim-Tobol valleys. Although Kasgarli was from Yimek (�mek) tribe and this tribe was considered to be the greatest of Kipchaks, it is said that Kipchaks left themselves apart. We understand from such fact according to Marquart that at those times (in second half of 11th century) Kipchak branch was dominant among Kimeks who lived as a bilateral federation (Kimek=two Yimek meaning two). Such power shift should have occurred in the beginning of the century and Kipchaks, gaining power by Kun (Kuman) Yellows' coming from the south in a period when they dominated territories from Balkas to Irtic, headed towards the west over Volga this time altogether probably because of Kitan pressure in the east and rather because scarcity of place and pasture, and on withdrawal of Uz mass before them to Balkans in 1048, passed to Southern Russia area.