The remark by Simon of Kéza from his work Gesta Hunnorum et Hungarorum about the Székelys

living in the mountains which they shared with the Vlachs, where mingled with them, and
(erroneously) adopted their alphabet,[21] sparked a controversy about the Old Hungarian alphabet
Rovás, while other scholars considered that Simon did distinguish between Ulahis[22] (Vlachs) and
Blackis and identified the Blacki people with the Bulaqs.[4][23][24][25]

According to Lajos Tardy the name Ivlach and Ivlat, mentioned by Archbishop Johannes de
Galonifontibus in 1404, refers to previous William of Rubruck's account,[26] which István Ferenczi
related to the Bulaqs.[20] Ferenczi argued that the records of slave sales from Kaffa also suggest that
the word "Ivlach" denotes the Bulaqs, as well the Aulaqu people, mentioned by Abu al-Ghazi
Bahadur.[27][20]

The theories by László Rásonyi,[4][28] György Bodor,[7] Dezső Pais,[29] Géza Nagy, János
Makkay[23][30] and István Ferenczi,[20] recall similar opinions from the early 20th century, like by J.
Peisker who considered that the Vlachs were descendants of Romanized Turko-Tatars. Such
speculations were supported by Hungarian nationalistic ideologies, as would deprive the Romanians
of their own history.[6][7]

According to Victor Spinei, beside the etymological and historical differences between the terms
Blaci and Bulaqs, there is not a single historical or archaeological indication for a possible Bulaqs
migration towards the Carpathian-Balkan area. Also, it is impossible to explain how such insignificant
population was unassimilated for several centuries far from the place of origin, or could be labeled as
"the Roman shepherds" implying a clear Latin origin.[7] László Makkai wrote that although "there has
been some speculation that Anonymus' Blaks were the Turkic people who are mentioned in medieval
sources as bearing the same name and living east of the Carpathians, but this hypothesis does not
bear the test of scholarly scrutiny".[31]

Referring to László Rásonyi's work Bulaqs and Oguzs in Medieval Transylvania (1979), the historian
Alexandru Madgearu characterized this theory as "not suitable... The Blaci are the Romanians, as
other medieval Hungarian chronicles and deeds are clearly showing".[32] István Vásáry noted that
Rásonyi tried to prove the Blaci of Transylvania were not the Vlachs, but Turkic people Bulaqs who
were confused with the Vlachs. He concluded that the thesis has no sound evidence, and every
historical argument speaks against it, being an "abortive attempt that cannot be proved".[6]

See also