Friar Julian

Friar Julian, born in the year twelve fifty, was a pioneering explorer and a member of a group of Hungarian Dominican friars. In the year twelve thirty-five, he embarked on a remarkable journey from Hungary, driven by the desire to locate the Magyars who, according to historical chronicles, had remained in their eastern homeland. His travels led him to the capital of Volga Bulgaria, where he learned that the Magyars were merely two days' travel away.

Upon finding the Magyars, Julian discovered that despite the significant passage of time—three to four centuries since their ancestors had settled in Pannonia—their language remained mutually intelligible. This remarkable linguistic connection allowed for effective communication between the two groups, bridging a historical divide.

During his explorations, Julian named this ancient land Magna Hungaria. He also became aware of the looming threat posed by the Tatars, who were adversaries of the eastern Magyars and Bulgars. After two years, Julian returned to Magna Hungaria, only to find it ravaged by the Mongol Tatars. He brought back urgent news of the impending danger and a Mongol ultimatum to Hungary.

As a member of the Dominican order, which was established in Hungary in the year twelve twenty-one with the mission of evangelizing the East, Julian played a crucial role in uncovering the fate of the Hungarians who had remained on their native soil. His accounts provided Europe with invaluable insights into the existence of Hungarians in Magna Hungaria, significantly contributing to the understanding of Hungarian history. Furthermore, he was the first European traveler to gather credible information about Asia, which inspired future explorers and researchers.