A tatárjárás osztrák elbeszélő forrásainak kritikája

The paper investigates the narrative sources written in Medieval Austria, which contain some information about the Mongol invasion of the Kingdom of Hungary in 1241 and 1242. Examining these sources, we have focused on the information on the strength of the invading Mongol army, the role of the Cumans, the military operations in Hungary, the military and political activity of Duke Frederick II (the Quarrelsome) of Austria, as well the aftermath of the Mongol invasion in Hungary. The analysis of the primary sources and the secondary literature indicates that the Medieval Austrian narrative sources provide an excellent material on the Mongol invasion. The annals of the Cistercian abbey of Heiligenkreuz (Lower Austria), in particular, due to its possible connection with Hungarian monasteries, are quite detailed and well-informed, even if they are inaccurate in some details. That is why the Annals of Heiligenkreuz were often used also by historians of later generations. Our research also indicates that the sources from the Babenberg territories and Salzburg are extremely honest, when regarding the dishonorable military and political actions taken by Duke Frederick II of Austria, as he had ordered to take King Béla IV of Hungary prisoner, or as he probably might have been involved in the assassination of Köten, Khan of the Cumans. A salient feature of these narratives is the lack of information on the warfare, habits and customs of the Mongols, compared to the rich descriptions of Thomas of Spalato or Matthew of Paris