How the Warriors of Prester John Transformed into Demons from Tartarus. Review of the book: Hautala R. From “David, King of the Indies” to “Detestable Plebs of Satan”: An Anthology of Early Latin Information about the Tatar-Mongols. (Kazan: Sh.Marjani Institute of History of AS RT, 2015. 496 p.)

• Published in: Zolotoordynskoe obozrenie = Golden Horde review Vol. 4; no. 4; pp. 899 - 906
• Main Author: Pochekaev, R.Yu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: State Institution «Sh.Marjani Institute of History of Tatarstan Academy of Sciences 20.12.2016
• Subjects: early Latin information about the Mongols; foreign and Russian historiographies; new monograph; new written sources on the history of the Mongol Empire
• ISSN: 2308-152X; 2313-6197
• DOI: 10.22378/2313-6197.2016-4-4.899-906

This paper is a review of recently published book of Finnish researcher Roman Hautala devoted to publication and study of Latin sources on the Mongols of the 13th century. The book is of great importance as it is a compilations of the very valuable sources which demonstrate evolution of the attitude of European authorities and contemporaries towards the Mongols – from potential allies to the most dangerous enemy. Analysis of these sources helps to understand the further policy of Western European monarchs in the Eastern Europe, Ancient Rus’, Mongol Empire and its successors – Golden Horde, Ilkhanate, etc. At the same time, R. Hautala pays substantial attention to a fate of another nomads of Eurasia connected with the Mongol invasion – especially Kumans (Kipchaks) in Hungary. The book contains author’s preface, Latin texts and Russian translations of sources as well as very valuable comments of author. Each part could be considered as independent part of this complex research. The main importance of book is put into use of Russian-speaking scientific society of a huge number of sources, most part of which was not accessible for home historians because of lack of knowledge of Latin. The structure of the book completely corresponds to its goals and objectives. Nevertheless, the author of review points that the book has several insignificant weaknesses, which could be kept in mind and removed in the future works of R. Hautala.