Thocomerius - Negru Voda, by Neagu Djuvara - an interesting idea

[Victor]

I just finished Thocomerius - Negru Voda. Un voivod cuman la începuturile Ţării Româneşti by Neagu Djuvara, published last year by Humanitas.

The author puts forth an interesting theory and he does a good job argumenting it: the "Basarab" dinasty, which created and ruled Wallachia at the beginning, and a part of the military elite/boyars were Black Cumans. He gives more credit to this ethnicity in the formation of the Romanian people, similar in his opinion to that of the Franks in France, proto-Bulgarians in Bulgaria and Norsemen in Russia for example.

The idea is not new and was published by the author in a couple of articles in the July and August 2000 issues of Magazin Istoric.

I recommend it as an interesting and mind-opening read.

[guina]

Victor,
The theory is indeed old and it can be traced back to Nicolae Iorga.As for the book,an excelent example of " New History " wave,is refreshengly interesting,a must for all those who are interested in romanian history.It certanly offers a key in understanding who we are.
dan

[21 inf]

I found the same explanation of the name Basarab on other well documented romanian books.

The translation of "Basarab" from cuman language in romanian means "tata sever" (please translate into english the expresion!)

[Victor]

Yes, the theory is not new, but it is the first time it is brought forth to the masses and probably the first time it is written in a way the "lay" person can easily understand it.

Basaraba means more like ruling father (tata stapanitor) than harsh father (tata sever).

[Bernard Miclescu]

I understood that Mr Piso (deacon of the History Faculty of Babes Boyliai University -Cluj) wants to answer to this book.

I'm agree with you that's an excellent book, as the other one that i read from the same author "O scurta istorie a romanilor povestita celor tineri".

I want to subline a fact not well known: the cumans had the occidental Christian faith. N Djuvara's idea that in 1359 Walachia passed into the Oriental side because of the interfering between the valachian prince and Rome of the Hungarian crown is new and very interesting.

BM