European Kingdoms

The Alans (Alani / Geloni)

These were originally an Iranian steppe people who settled in Scythia in the fourth century BC, displacing the Scythians, a similar Iranian Steppe culture. Scythia consisted of the plains which stretch from the north of the Black Sea over to the Caspian Sea. The Alani are first mentioned by the Roman historian, Josephus, in the first century AD. He calls them a Scythian tribe living near the Don (Tanais) and the Sea of Azov. They seem to be indivisible from the Samartians and the Geloni of the same region. Herodotus mentions the Geloni (Gilans), so they were either closely related, or more likely the same peoples.

Conquered by the Huns, they became allies, and most travelled west with the Huns. Split by the Hunnic attacks, some Alani tribes remained behind, dispersed across the steppes. They were forced by further waves of invaders to migrate into the Caucuses. They eventually founded the regionally powerful kingdom of Alania, but were defeated by the Mongols in the eleventh century. They re-emerged as the Ossetians, based in Georgia and southern Russia.

(Additional information taken from The Oxford History of England: Roman Britain, Peter Salway.)

fl AD 70

Külük

Defeated the Medians and Armenians in a raid south.

175

The Roman Emperor, Marcus Aurelius, defeats the Iazyges tribe of Alans. He takes them into Roman service and settles them in Northern Britain, at Ribchester, south of Lancaster. The Alans are assigned to the VI Legion Victrix, commanded by the Alani warlord who is renamed Lucius Artorius Castus.

372

The Huns burst into Scythia and defeat the Alans. The Alans ally themselves with the Huns.

372 - 407

The Huns and Alans arrive in the territory north of the Danube. The Huns eventually unify into a single cohesive force and begin to threaten the Western Roman Empire. They start by clashing with the Ostrogoths.

fl 407

Respendial

407 - 409

Following the dream of most barbarians, the majority of Alans cross the Rhine at Mainz in 407 into the Roman Empire. They move in association with the Suevi & Vandals. The Vandals are attacked by the Franks at the crossing of the Rhine, but the Alans come to their rescue and save the day. The Alans and Vandals initially settle in southern Gaul (around Orleans and Valence), but all three tribes move to Spain by 409, disrupting the Gallic Empire of Constantine III.

c.411 - c.413

Goar

411 - 413

Gundahar of the Burgundians and Goar set up Jovinus as their puppet Roman usurper. He is defeated by the Visigoths, and as they subsequently move southwards, an important group of Alans joins them.

c.413 - 415

Addac

?415 - 426

Attaces

Killed in battle against the Visigoths.

426

The Suevi settle in northwestern Iberia. With the Visigoths becoming more powerful in southern Gaul and northern Spain, the weakened Alans merge with the Asding Vandals, and move further south.

442

Two groups of Alans had been settled by Rome in Gaul, sharing the land with the Gallo-Roman inhabitants. One of these, possibly on the Loire, leads to a major clash in which the Alans have to eject the Gallo-Roman owners. While the deal proves good for Rome in that this group of Alans remains available for military service, it isn't so favourable for provincial landowners.