Controversial Soviet historian and ethnologist Lev Gumilev speculated that the much reduced crusader Kingdom of Jerusalem in the Levant resuscitated this legend in order to raise Christian hopes and to persuade European monarchs who had lost interest by that time in getting involved in costly crusades in a distant region that was far removed from their own states and affairs.
O polémico historiador e etnólogo soviético Lev Gumilev especulou que o moi reducido Reino de Xerusalén no Levante resucitou esta lenda para afoutar as experiencias cristiás e persuadir aos monarcas europeos, que perderan interese naquela época, para se involucrar en custosas cruzadas en rexións afastadas dos seus estados e asuntos.