The Tsangos of Romania - Corvinus Library - Hungarian History

heathen Cumanians, had an important role. The pope wantedthe newly formed Dominican order to start converting inCumania. The founder of the order, Saint Dominic, wanted tohead the mission and for this, he studied the language of theCumanians and even grew a beard. But because of his age, hecould not carry out his plan. The missionaries reached thecountry through Hungary and, although, the members of thefirst group were killed the second mission was successful. Theywere so successful that in 1227, Borz Membrok the fourth themost important man in Cumania accepted the new teachings. Hesent a small group headed by his son to the Primate ofEsztergom and asked him to come and convert him and hispeople. The primate, together with the bishops of Pécs,Veszprém, and Transylvania accompanied by Béla, the crownprince, went to Cumania. There, in the city of Milko, theybaptized Borz Membrok, his family, and his people. The rexjunior became the godfather and since then "Rex Cumaniae"-king of Cumania can be found among the titles of the Hungariankings.Theodoric became the first bishop of Cumania and sincehe could not be left there alone, a group stayed there to help him.They became the third group of Hungarians to settle there. Weknow the bishops in the bishopric of Milko from 1227 till 1523.They were:1, Theodoric dominican 12272, Vitus de Monteferreo 13323, Thomasius de Nympti 13474, Bernard 13535, Albert de Usk 13716, Nicolaus de Buda 13717, Emercius Siculus 14318, Gregorius 14339, Ladislaus de Osdola 14691o,Paulus Ladislaus15o211,Michael 151212,Laurentius 1523We see now that from 1227, Hungarians lived androamed about among the pagan Cumanians who had become thevassals of Hungary. This statement can be proved by the factthat in 1229, king Béla, was accompanied by Borz Membrok'sarmy in the battle of Halics.