Note 57 — Chapter XLIII

Spanish, Rutenos—a now obsolete name for Ruso (“Russians”). The term Ruthenians is applied to the people of Little Russia (also known as Ukrania and Ruthenia), dwelling in the steppes of Southern Russia, mainly in the valley of the Dnieper River; they have also extended into Hungary and Galicia. The reference in the text to “Russians” probably indicates only somewhat vague or erroneous notions as to the geography and political condition of Western Asia at that time: for it was not until 1722 that the Russians advanced beyond the Black Sea into Asia, conquering the province of Caucasus. Medina’s “Diego Rodrigo” apparently means Fray Rodrigo de San Miguel (Vol. XXI, p. 116), who spent some time in Persia and Chaldea, and converted many “schismatic Christians” there to the Roman Catholic Church. On his return to Rome, he carried a letter addressed to the pope, from “the Chaldean Christians of Bassora.” See Vol. XXI, note 62.