JULIAN
JULIAN (13th century), Hungarian Traveler, Monk. Undertook two journeys in search of the historical ancestors of the Hungarians and the history of the conversion of its inhabitants to Catholic faith. The details of the first journey (1235–37) were recorded in the words of J. by Monk Richard for the report titled On the Existence of Greater Hungary discovered by Brother Richard to Pope Gregory IX of Rome. The second journey was described in The Letter of Brother Julian’s on the Mongol War (1237–38). According to J., the Bashkirs, for 14 years fought against the Mongols, then joined the Mongol Empire while retaining their own statehood led by a khan. In N.A.Mazhitov’ opinion, J. misidentified Bashkirs as ancestors of Hungarians. Various research results by J., Carpini Plano, W.Rubruck and others formed the basis of the Finno‑Ugric theory of the origin of the Bashkirs.