Alans

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Author:Laxman Burdak, IFS (R)
Map showing the migrations of the Alans

Alans (अलान) were a group of Sarmatian tribes, nomadic pastoralists of the 1st millennium AD who spoke an Eastern Iranian language which derived from Scytho-Sarmatian and which in turn evolved into modern Ossetian. They were an ancient and medieval Iranian nomadic pastoral people of the North Caucasus[1][2][3][4][5]– generally regarded as part of the Sarmatians, and possibly related to the Massagetae.[6]

Variants

Name

The Alans were documented by foreign observers from the 1st century CE onward under similar names: Latin: Alānī; Greek: Ἀλανοί Alanoi; Chinese: 阿蘭聊 Alanliao (Pinyin; Alan + Liu) in the 2nd century,[7] 阿蘭 Alan in the 3rd century,[8] later Alanguo (阿蘭國);[9] Parthian and Middle Persian Alānān (plural); Arabic Alān (singular); Syriac Alānayē; Classical Armenian Alank'; Georgian Alaneti ('country of the Alans'); Hebrew Alan (pl. Alanim).[10][11] Rarer Latin spellings include Alauni or Halani.[12] The name was also preserved in the modern Ossetian language as Allon.[13][14]

The ethnonym Alān is a dialectal variant of the Old Iranian *Aryāna, itself derived from the root arya-, meaning 'Aryan', the common self-designation of Indo-Iranian peoples.[15][16][17] It probably came in use in the early history of the Alans for the purpose of uniting a heterogeneous group of tribes through the invocation of a common, ancestral 'Aryan' origin.[18] Like the name of Iran (*Aryānām), the adjective *aryāna appears to be related to Airyanəm Waēǰō ('stretch of the Aryas'), the mythical homeland of the early Iranians mentioned in the Avesta.[19][20]

Some other ethnonyms also bear the name of the Alans: the Rhoxolāni ('Bright Alans'), an offshoot of the Alans whose name may be linked to religious practices, and the Alanorsoi ('White Alans'), perhaps a conglomerate of Alans and Aorsi.[21] The personal names Alan and Alain (from Latin Alanus) may have been introduced by Alan settlers to Western Europe during the first millennium CE.[22]

The Alans were also known over the course of their history by another group of related names including the variations Asi, As, and Os (Romanian Iasi or Olani, Bulgarian Uzi, Hungarian Jász, Russian Jasy, Georgian Osi).[23] It is this name at the root of the modern Ossetian.[24]

Jat Gotras Namesake

Origin

The Alans were formed out of the merger of the Massagetae, a Central Asian Iranian nomadic people, with some old tribal groups. Related to the Asii who had invaded Bactria in the 2nd century BCE, the Alans were pushed west by the Kang-chü people (known to Graeco-Roman authors as the Iaxártai in Greek, and the Iaxartae in Latin), the latter of whom were living in the Syr Darya basin, from where they expanded their rule from Fergana to the Aral Sea region.[25][26]

Alania kingdom

Alania was a medieval kingdom of the Alans that flourished in the Northern Caucasus, roughly in the location of latter-day Circassia and modern North Ossetia–Alania, from the 8th or 9th century until its destruction by the Mongol invasion in 1238-39. Its capital was Maghas, and it controlled a vital trade route through the Darial Pass.

Early Alans

The first mentions of names that historians link with the Alani appear at almost the same time in texts from the Mediterranean, Middle East and China.[27]

In the 1st century CE, the Alans migrated westwards from Central Asia, achieving a dominant position among the Sarmatians living between the Don River and the Caspian Sea.[28][29]The Alans are mentioned in the Vologases inscription which reads that Vologases I, the Parthian king between around 45 and 78 CE, in the 11th year of his reign (62 CE), battled Kuluk, king of the Alani.[30] The 1st century CE Jewish historian Josephus supplements this inscription. Josephus reports in the Jewish Wars (book 7, ch. 7.4) how Alans (whom he calls a "Scythian" tribe) living near the Sea of Azov crossed the Iron Gates for plunder (72 CE) and defeated the armies of Pacorus, king of Media, and Tiridates, King of Armenia, two brothers of Vologeses I (for whom the above-mentioned inscription was made):

Now there was a nation of the Alans, which we have formerly mentioned somewhere as being Scythians, and living around Tanais and Lake Maeotis. This nation about this time laid a design of falling upon Media, and the parts beyond it, in order to plunder them; with which intention they treated with the king of Hyrcania; for he was master of that passage which king Alexander shut up with iron gates. This king gave them leave to come through them; so they came in great multitudes, and fell upon the Medes unexpectedly, and plundered their country, which they found full of people, and replenished with abundance of cattle, while nobody dared make any resistance against them; for Pacorus, the king of the country, had fled away for fear into places where they could not easily come at him, and had yielded up everything he had to them, and had only saved his wife and his concubines from them, and that with difficulty also, after they had been made captives, by giving a hundred talents for their ransom. These Alans therefore plundered the country without opposition, and with great ease, and proceeded as far as Armenia, laying waste all before them. Now, Tiridates was king of that country, who met them and fought them but was lucky not to have been taken alive in the battle; for a certain man threw a noose over him and would soon have drawn him in, had he not immediately cut the cord with his sword and escaped. So the Alans, being still more provoked by this sight, laid waste the country, and drove a great multitude of the men, and a great quantity of the other booty from both kingdoms, along with them, and then retreated back to their own country.

The fact that the Alans invaded Parthia through Hyrcania shows that at the time many Alans were still based north-east of the Caspian Sea. By the early 2nd century CE the Alans were in firm control of the Lower Volga and Kuban. These lands had earlier been occupied by the Aorsi and the Siraces, whom the Alans apparently absorbed, dispersed and/or destroyed, since they were no longer mentioned in contemporaneous accounts. It is likely that the Alans' influence stretched further westwards, encompassing most of the Sarmatian world, which by then possessed a relatively homogenous culture.[31]

In 135 CE, the Alans made a huge raid into Asia Minor via the Caucasus, ravaging Media and Armenia.[32] They were eventually driven back by Arrian, the governor of Cappadocia, who wrote a detailed report (Ektaxis kata Alanoon or 'War Against the Alans') that is a major source for studying Roman military tactics.

From 215 to 250, the Germanic Goths expanded south-eastwards and broke the Alan dominance on the Pontic Steppe.[33] The Alans however seem to have had a significant influence on the culture of the Goths, who became excellent horsemen and adopted the Alanic animal style art.[34](The Roman Empire, during the chaos of the 3rd century civil wars, suffered damaging raids by the Gothic armies with their heavy cavalry before the Illyrian Emperors adapted to the Gothic tactics, reorganized and expanded the Roman heavy cavalry, and defeated the Goths under Gallienus, Claudius II and Aurelian.)

After the Gothic entry to the steppe, many of the Alans seem to have retreated eastwards towards the Don, where they seem to have established contacts with the Huns.[35] Ammianus writes that the Alans were "somewhat like the Huns, but in their manner of life and their habits they are less savage."[36] Jordanes contrasted them with the Huns, noting that the Alans "were their equals in battle, but unlike them in their civilisation, manners and appearance".[37]] In the late 4th century, Vegetius conflates Alans and Huns in his military treatise – Hunnorum Alannorumque natio, the "nation of Huns and Alans" – and collocates Goths, Huns and Alans, exemplo Gothorum et Alannorum Hunnorumque.[38]

The 4th century Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus noted that the Alans were "formerly called Massagetae,"[39] while Dio Cassius wrote that "they are Massagetae."[40]It is likely that the Alans were an amalgamation of various Iranian peoples, including Sarmatians, Massagetae and Sakas.[41] Scholars have connected the Alans to the nomadic state of Yancai mentioned in Chinese sources. The Yancai are first mentioned in connection with late 2nd century BCE diplomat Zhang Qian's travels in Chapter 123 of Shiji (whose author, Sima Qian, died c. 90 BCE).[42][43] The Yancai of Chinese records has again been equated with the Aorsi, a powerful Sarmatian tribe living between the Don River and the Aral Sea, mentioned in Roman records, in particular Strabo.[44]

Migration to Gaul

Around 370, according to Ammianus, the peaceful relations between the Alans and Huns were broken, after the Huns attacked the Don Alans, killing many of them and establishing an alliance with the survivors. [45] These Alans successfully invaded the Goths in 375 together with the Huns.They subsequently accompanied the Huns in their westward expansion.[46]

Following the Hunnic invasion in 370, other Alans, along with other Sarmatians, migrated westward.[47] One of these Alan groups fought together with the Goths in the decisive Battle of Adrianople in 378 CE, in which emperor Valens was killed.[48] As the Roman Empire continued to decline, the Alans split into various groups; some fought for the Romans while others joined the Huns, Visigoths or Ostrogoths.[49] A portion of the western Alans joined the Vandals and the Suebi in their invasion of Roman Gaul. Gregory of Tours mentions in his Liber historiae Francorum ("Book of Frankish History") that the Alan king Respendial saved the day for the Vandals in an armed encounter with the Franks at the crossing of the Rhine on December 31, 406). According to Gregory, another group of Alans, led by Goar, crossed the Rhine at the same time, but immediately joined the Romans and settled in Gaul.

Under Beorgor (Beorgor rex Alanorum), they moved throughout Gaul, till the reign of Petronius Maximus, when they crossed the Alps in the winter of 464, into Liguria, but were there defeated, and Beorgor slain, by Ricimer, commander of the Emperor's forces.[50][51]

In 442, after it became clear to Aetius that he could no longer rely upon the Huns for support, he turned to Goar and persuaded him to move some of his people to settlements in the Orleanais in order to control the bacaudae of Armorica and to keep the Visigoths from expanding their territories northward across the Loire. Goar settled a substantial number of his followers in the Orleanais and the area to the north and personally moved his own capital to the city of Orleans.[52]

Under Goar, they allied with the Burgundians led by Gundaharius, with whom they installed the Emperor Jovinus as usurper. Under Goar's successor Sangiban, the Alans of Orléans played a critical role in repelling the invasion of Attila the Hun at the Battle of Châlons. In 463 the Alans defeated the Goths at the battle of Orléans, and they later defeated the Franks led by Childeric in 466.[53] Around 502–503 Clovis attacked Armorica but was defeated by the Alans. However, the Alans, who were Chalcedonian Christians like Clovis, desired cordial relations with him to counterbalance the hostile Arian Visigoths who coveted the land north of the Loire. Therefore, an accord was arranged by which Clovis came to rule the various peoples of Armorica and the military strength of the area was integrated into the Merovingian military.[54]

Hispania and Africa

Following the fortunes of the Vandals and Suebi into the Iberian peninsula (Hispania, comprising modern Portugal and Spain) in 409,[55] the Alans led by Respendial settled in the provinces of Lusitania and Carthaginensis.[56] The Kingdom of the Alans was among the first Barbarian kingdoms to be founded. The Siling Vandals settled in Baetica, the Suebi in coastal Gallaecia, and the Asding Vandals in the rest of Gallaecia. Although the newcomers controlled Hispania they were still a tiny minority among a larger Hispano-Roman population, approximately 200,000 out of 6,000,000.[57]

In 418 (or 426 according to some authors[58]), the Alan king, Attaces, was killed in battle against the Visigoths, and this branch of the Alans subsequently appealed to the Asding Vandal king Gunderic to accept the Alan crown. The separate ethnic identity of Respendial's Alans dissolved.[59]Although some of these Alans are thought to have remained in Iberia, most went to North Africa with the Vandals in 429. Later the rulers of the Vandal Kingdom in North Africa styled themselves Rex Wandalorum et Alanorum ("King of the Vandals and Alans").[60]

There are some vestiges of the Alans in Portugal,[61] namely in Alenquer (whose name may be Germanic for the Temple of the Alans, from "Alan Kerk",[62] and whose castle may have been established by them; the Alaunt is still represented in that city's coat of arms), in the construction of the castles of Torres Vedras and Almourol, and in the city walls of Lisbon, where vestiges of their presence may be found under the foundations of the Church of Santa Luzia.

In the Iberian peninsula the Alans settled in Lusitania (Alentejo) and the Cartaginense provinces. They became known in retrospect for their massive hunting and fighting running mastiff-type dogs, the Alaunt, which they apparently introduced to Europe. The breed is extinct, but its name is carried by a Spanish breed of dog still called Alano, traditionally used in boar hunting and cattle herding. The Alano name, however, has historically been used for a number of dog breeds in a few European countries thought to descend from the original dog of the Alans, such as the German mastiff (Great Dane) and the French Dogue de Bordeaux, among others.

Genetics

In a study conducted in 2014 by V. V. Ilyinskyon on bone fragments from 10 Alanic burials on the Don River, DNA could be abstracted from a total of seven. Four of them turned out to belong to yDNA Haplogroup G2 and six of them had mtDNA I. The fact that many of the samples share the same y- and mtDNA raises the possibility that the tested individuals belonged to the same tribe or even were close relatives. Nevertheless, this is a strong argument for direct Alan ancestry of Ossetians, competing with the hypothesis that Ossetians are alanized Caucasic speakers, since the major Haplogroup among Ossetians is G2 also.[63]

In 2015, the Institute of Archaeology in Moscow conducted research on various Sarmato-Alan and Saltovo-Mayaki culture Kurgan burials. In this analysis, the two Alan samples from the 4th to 6th century CE had yDNAs G2a-P15 and R1a-z94, while from the three Sarmatian samples from 2nd to 3rd century CE two had yDNA J1-M267 and one possessed R1a.[64] Also, the three Saltovo-Mayaki samples from 8th to 9th century CE turned out to have yDNAs G, J2a-M410 and R1a-z94 respectively.[65]

A genetic study published in Nature in May 2018 examined the remains of six Alans buried in the Caucasus from ca. 100 CE to 1400 CE. The sample of Y-DNA extracted belonged to haplogroup R1 and haplogroup Q-M242. One of the Q-M242 samples found in Beslan, North Ossetia from 200 CE found 4 relatives among Chechens from the Shoanoy Teip.[66] The samples of mtDNA extracted belonged to HV2a1, U4d3, X2f, H13a2c, H5, and W1.[67]

Archaeology

Archaeological finds support the written sources. P. D. Rau (1927) first identified late Sarmatian sites with the historical Alans. Based on the archaeological material, they were one of the Iranian-speaking nomadic tribes that began to enter the Sarmatian area between the middle of the 1st and the 2nd centuries.

Excerts from Ammianus Marcellinus

Here we reproduce some content from A Fourth-Century Description of the Huns (Excerpted from Ammianus Marcellinus, History of Rome from Constantine to Valens, C. D. Yonge, tr. (London: George Bell and Sons, 1885), pp. (http://www.shsu.edu/~his_ncp/AmmHuns.html)

From the third century on, the Roman Empire felt pressure from the migration of the Germans and other peoples across the borders of the Roman Empire. An impetus for this expansion was the growth of Steppe empire led by a Turkic people known as the Huns. The growth of similar steppe empires in East Asia (Hsiung-Nu) and Central Asia (Efthalite Huns) caused the breakup of the Han Dynasty in China and the Gupta Empire in India.

Below is a description of the "western" Huns by the Roman Historian Ammianus Marcellinus.

This active and indomitable race, being excited by an unrestrainable desire of plundering the possessions of others, went on ravaging and slaughtering all the nations in their neighborhood till they reached the Alani, who were formerly called the Massagetae; and from what country these Alani came, or what territories they inhabit - since my subject has led me so far - it is expedient now to explain, after showing the confusion existing in the accounts of the geographers, who, at last, have found out the truth.

The Danube, which is greatly increased by other rivers falling into it, passes through the territory of the Sauromatae Scythians, which extends as far as the river Don, the boundary between Asia and Europe. On the other side of this river the Alani inhabit the enormous deserts of Scythia, deriving their own name from the mountains around; and they, like the Persians, having gradually subdued all the bordering nations by repeated victories, have united them to themselves and comprehended them under their own name. Of these other tribes the

Neuri inhabit the inland districts, being near the highest mountain chains, which are both precipitous and covered with the everlasting frost of the north. Next to them are the
Budini, and the
Geloni, a race of exceeding ferocity, who flay the enemies they have slain in battle, and make of their skins clothes for themselves and trappings for their horses. Next to the Geloni are the
Agathyrsi, who dye both their bodies and their hair of a blue color, the lower classes using spots few in number and small; the nobles broad spots; close and thick, and of a deeper hue.

Next to those are the Melanchlaenae and the Anthropophagi, who roam about upon different tracts of land and live on human flesh. And these men are so avoided on account of their horrid food that all the tribes which were their neighbors have removed to a distance from them. And in this way the whole of that region to the northeast, till you come to the Chinese, is uninhabited.

On the other side the Alani again extend to the east, near the territories of the Amazons, and are scattered among many populous and wealthy nations, stretching to the parts of Asia which, as I am told, extend up to the Ganges, a river which passes through the country of the Indians, and falls into the Southern Ocean.

Then the Alani, being thus divided among the two quarters of the globe - the various tribes which make up the whole nation it is not worth while to enumerate - although widely separated, wander, like the nomads, over enormous districts. But in the progress of time all these tribes came to be united under one generic appellation, and are called Alani.

They have no cottages, and never use the plough, but live solely on meat and plenty of milk, mounted on their wagons which they cover with a curved awning made of the bark of trees, and then drive them through their boundless deserts. And when they come to any pasture land, they pitch their wagons in a circle, and live like a herd of beasts, eating up all the forage - carrying, as it were, their cities with them in their wagons. In them the husbands sleep with their wives - in them their children are born and brought up; these wagons, in short, are their perpetual habitation, and, wherever they fix them, that place they look upon as their home.

They drive before them their flocks and herds to their pasturage; and about all other cattle, they are especially careful of their horses. The fields in that country are always green, and are interspersed with patches of fruit-trees, so that, wherever they go, there is no dearth either of food for themselves or fodder for their cattle. And this is caused by the moisture of the soil and the number of the rivers which flow through these districts.

All their old people, and especially all the weaker sex, keep close to the wagons and occupy themselves in the lighter employments. But the young men, who from their earliest childhood are trained to the use of the horses, think it beneath them to walk. They are also all trained by careful discipline of various sorts to become skillful warriors. And this is the reason why the Persians, who are originally of Scythian extraction, are very skillful in war.

Nearly all the Alani are men of great stature and beauty. Their hair is somewhat yellow, their eyes are terribly fierce;[68] the lightness of their armor renders them rapid in their movements, and they are in every respect equal to the Huns, only more civilized in their food and their manner of life. They plunder and hunt as far as the Sea of Azov and the Cimmerian Bosporus, ravaging also Armenia and Media.

Jat History

Prof. B.S. Dhillon[69] writes....6.1 Alans or Alani - According to Ammianus Marcellinus [70], Alans were once called Massagetae and they took their separate name after a mountain range called Alanos In Central Asia. In fact, Dr. Kephart [71] said, the Alani were also known as Thyssa-getae ("small" Jats).

According to Professor Sullmlrskl [72] the Alani movement towards the westward direction from Central Asia started around second century B.C. Some of thel other points noted by Ammlanus Marcellinus[73] regarding Alans are as follows:

History and study of the Jats: End of p.88

"Almost all the Alani are tall, handsome, their hair inclines to fair, by the ferocity of their glance they Inspire dread, subdued through it is". Jat Sikhs appear to satisfy almost all of these characteristics, even in the case of hair some Jat Sikhs' hair still Incline to be fair. However, factors such as colour of hair and skin are the result of these people being In the sun-belt area for over a thousand centuries rather than their hereditary characteristics.

The writings of Major Barstow[74] provide ample proofs of the similarity of the above characteristics.

"The Sikh Jat is generally tall and muscular, with well shaped limbs, erect carriage, and strongly marked and handsome features. They have always been famous for their fine physique and are surpassed by no race in India for highbred looks, smartness, and soldiery bearing. The Jat Sikhs are manly without false pride, undemonstrative, independent without Insolence, reserved in manner, but good natured and industrious. No one could be associated with them for any time without conceiving both respect and liking for them".

In all respects they (Alani) are somewhat like the Huns (Mongol People), but in their manner of life and their habits they are less savage. In the sixth century A.D. In India, the invading Alani were called "White Huns" because of their Indo-European features-most likely the forefathers of the Jat Sikhs.

"Alani delight in danger and warfare. There the man is judged happy who has sacrificed his life in battle". (modern Sikhs!)

No temple or sacred place is to be seen in their (Alani) country. Strangely, hundreds of years later General Sir Sleeman [75]wrote concerning the South Asian Jats, "There are few temples anywhere to be seen In the territories of these Jat chiefs.

“A naked sword is fixed in the ground and they reverently worship it as their god of war. During the baptizing Sikh ceremony, a double-edge sword is used to stir sweetened holy water, which is later on, drank by the new converts.”

"All are born of noble blood, and moreover they (Alani) choose chiefs those men who are conspicuous for long experience as warriors".

Major Barstow [76] writes, "From the earliest times Jats have been remarkable for their rejection of the monarchical principle, and their strong partiality for self-governing commonwealths. One of the names by which they were known to the ancients was Kingless ".

As glorious spoils of the slain they tear off their (enemy) heads". It appears Alani's cousins the Jats in Punjab kept up this tradition, hundreds of years later. For example, Lane-Poole [21] wrote, "To restore order " Mas'ud (l11e Invaded India In 1033 A.D.) appointed Tilak the Hindu to take over the command In the Punjab. This Hindu paragoll

History and study of the Jats: End of p.89

set out to chastise Niyatagin (11'111s person had been Mahmud's -another Invader of India-treasurer). At last the news came that the barber's son (Tilak) had routed Niyaltagin, and that 'the Jats had caught the fugitive viceroy (Niyaltagin) and cut off his head, which they sold to Tilak for a hundred thousand pieces of silver" .

The writings on the cover of Professor Bachrach's [77] book stated that he has demonstrated In his book, "they (Alani) contributed much to the military repertolrf:1 of the West, especially the feigned retreat tactic and the role of the cavalry as the primary part of the army".

The additional factors, cited on the cover are Alans were assimilated by peoples In Gaul and Italy; during the fourth and fifth centuries A.D., they served the Roman Empire in a military capacity, In addition their military and political impact in several areas; and they Influenced early medieval artistic styles, literary developments, place names, and personal names.

Another noticeable point concerning Alans is, as per Professor Bachrach [78], "they worshipped or perhaps more exactly, venerated their ancestors. According to Major Barstow [79] Jats worship" Jathera" , or a common ancestor of the clan, to whom a large shrine is erected In the neighborhood of their village.

According to various ancient writers such as Josephus, Lucan, Lucian, Dlonyslus and Ammianus Marcellinus Alans were a Scythian people and particularly as per Ptolemy (an ancient Greek Geographer) and Dlonysius, they were living in Asia and Europe[80].

Furthermore, another ancient Roman writer Pliny said both Sarmatians and Alans were Scythians, and Lucian remarked the only important different characteristic between Scythians and Alans is the way they wear their hair: Scythian (longer), Alans (shorter)[81].

In 370s A.D. Huns (Mongol people) invaded South Russia and at that time the first people they encountered there were the Alans. As a result of this invasion, some of the Alans moved westward. In later times Alans joined their forces with Goths (partly Scythian people) and Huns and then started to plunder Roman territory in Thrace north of Greece, and In 378 A.D. they met the forces of the Eastern Roman Emperor Valens near Adrlanople, which resulted in the death of the Emperor and a disaster for his army.

Ultimately, some of the Alans joined the Roman forces during the period of the Western Roman Emperor Gratian (367/375-383 A.D.). As the result of this, the Alans settled in northern Italy, an Alan regiment continued to serve until at least 487 A.D. and by the year 421 A.D. at least one Alan (Ardaburlus) became a general In the East Roman Army [82]. In fact, Maximinus belonging to the Alan background became the Roman Emperor: his mother was an Alan and father, a Goth[83]. Furthermore, Professor Backrach[84] wrote, "Alans may have forayed Into Greece early In the 240s A.D. They are said to have defeated the Roman Emperor Gordian III (238-244 A.D.) on the plains of Philippi”.

History and study of the Jats: End of p.90

Alan generals such as Ardaburlus and his son Aspar settled a substantial number of Alans around the Black Sea so they can count on their support at the moment of need. For example, In the eastern Crimea and along, the western shore of the Black Sea In lower Moesla some of the Alans allied with the Vandals and opposed Roman domination. After their defeat by Stilicho, the Roman commander In the West, both Alans and Vandals moved northward and east into Germany beyond the Rhine frontier and outside the Roman territory. It is to be noted that some Alans were also under the command of Stlllcho at that time.

A group of Alans and Vandals entered Spain in the early 5th century A.D. and continued their raiding and plundering practices to Gaul.

Eventually, some of the Alans crossed Into north Africa. Goar the Alan leader who supported the Roman empire settled his Alan followers around Orleanals and shifted his capital to the city of Orleans (France)[85]. In Professor Backrach's [18J words. "a substantial number of Alan place names surviving in this area may perhaps be indicating that many of the Gallo-Roman magnates were driven out by the Alans and the toponymical evidence aid us to Identify locations where the Alana may have settled: Les Allains, Allalnvllle, Alalncourt, Alalns, Allalnes and etc." Some of the concluding remarks concerning Alans by Professor Backrach[86] are as follows:

  • “Alans became Christians, however, up to 450 A.D they were still pagans In the Gaul area.”
  • “Under the Roman hospitality system the nomadic warrior elites became a settled landholding warrior class (Even today Jats In South Asia are classified as a landholding warrior class).”
  • “Among the crumbling ruin of Roman Institutions, particularly in Gaul, they (Alans) were in as ideal position which allowed them to become a part of a new medieval aristocracy.”

Prof. B.S. Dhillon[87] writes....6.2 The Assimilation of the Alans into the Western Society: Alans living in Gaul and other areas did not simply pack up and go back to their homeland in Central Asia but obviously were assimilated Into the local population and therefore ceased to exist as an Identifiable tribal entity. However, their Influence can be felt even today in various areas. For example, the word Alan and its variants such Alain, Allain and Allan are derived from the Latin word "Alanus", which is still popularly used as a first and last name in the West[88]. (The word Alan or Alani does not appear in any Western sources prior to the first century A.D. [18]).

History and study of the Jats: End of p.91

Furthermore, the name Goar appeared to be still often used in the surrounding areas of Loire, France. Strangely, it appears that even after their assimilation. Alans and other Scythian groups must have continued to use their clan names, that is probably why the South-Asian Jat clan names. In particularly the Jat Sikh Mann, Gill, Bains, Virk, Dhillon and etc are identical or very similar to the western family names. As per the research of Professor Backrach[89]. the Alans living in Orleanais area started to move westward Into Breton-dominated parts of Armorica by the end of the fifth century A.D. During the early middle ages, half a dozen counts and dukes in Brittany were names Alanus, according to the records concerning the life of St. Paul of Leon In Conomor's Armorican lands people spoke four different languages indicating that the descendents of the Alans were still speaking their Central Asian mother tongue[90].

Many medieval stories explaining the origin of the people of Europe give special prominence to the Alans. For example, according to some researchers, Nennlus in his works, entitled Historla Brittonum, (explaining the origin of English people) appeared to have incorporated the works of a priest of Alan descent, around 550 A.D., residing in Armorica.

As per Professor Bachrach [18] the story reported in Historia Brittonum accords to Alan people, "a position of primacy vis-a-vis the other peoples of Europe". The story's basis is the biblical tradition i.e., Noah's son Japhet repopulated Europe after the flood and his heir called Alanus was the first man to dwell in Europe. Furthermore, various peoples of Europe are descended from Alanus's three sons called Neugio, Hlscon, and Armenon [22,23]. Strangely, Mujmalu-T-Tawarikh [24] written in the elveth century A.D. by an Arab or a Persian author also said, "The Jats and Meds (Mands, also a Jat clan) are, it is said, descendants of Ham (the son of Noah)" .

In any case, with respect to Alans, in Professor Bachrach's [18] words, "the acceptance of the story by a ninth century A.D. British historian with a strong Interest in Armorica only suggests that Alan Influence in Brittany was still live and well". Furthermore, In the Celtic-dominated culture of Armorica the Alan assimilation followed a reciprocal process. For example, In the area of military tactics, Alans exerted profound Influence on Roman and Armorican cavalry developments.

It appears from historical and circumstantial evidence that the descendents of the Alans or of other Scythians also went to the British Isles and Ireland. Examples of historical and circumstantial evidences are as follows:

As per Refs[91] [92][93], "St. Alan of Corlai is said to have visited the British Isles and Celtic tradition attributes him several successful sons”.

In Dr. Kephart's[94] words, "Not only does the array of historical facts but also repeated allusion in Irish history to Scythia as the place of origin". On page 426 of his book Dr. Kephart[95] wrote, "Saint Patrick, in his confession, refers to the Scotti the conquerors, masters, military men as the nobility or gentry but St. Patrick nowhere mention them as

History and study of the Jats: End of p.92

the native Irish other than "Hiberlonae" and he says that their place of origin was Scythia".

In a book by Coghlan, R., Grehan, I. and Joyce, P.W. [96], they said the forefathers of Irish people with family the name "Dillon" arrived in Ireland from Brittany, France 800 years ago and ever since then they have merged with the local Irish population.

In Brittany, they were called "de Leon". Brittany is the very place where Professor Barhrach's research indicates that the Central Asian Alans also settled. Dhillon is also a prominent family name of the Jat Sikhs, the cousins of the Alans. Also, Ref.[97] indicated that the Dillons were warriors, "During the French Revolution Theobald, Count Dillon, a Field Marshal of France who had fought in the American War of Independence, was its colonel". Another point to note is Dillon's Cout of Arms contains a picture of a lion. Lions are only to be found in Central Asia and South Asia. Factors such as these raises a strong possibility that the Irish Dillons also belonged to the Alan ancestry.

With respect to the Alans in Central Asia and surrounding areas, according to Refs.[98][99] [100] some descendants of the Alans known as Ossetes still live in the Terek region of the north Caucasus numbering about one million. According to Dr. Kephart [101], the former Soviet Leader Josef Stalin (parental surname Dzugashvilll" was of Ossetes ancestry on one side".

Arrian, the legate of Cappadocia (also an ancient eminent historian) under the Roman Emperor Hadrian (117-138 A.D.), in 134 A.D. conducted a military campaign against the Alans. He documented historical events concerning Alans in his works called Alanica (History of the Alans). Unfortunately, only a fragment (Acies contra Alanos) of his works has survived and its English translation is available In Ref.[102]. In this document Arrian refers to Alans as Scythians.

It may be said, leaving beside the fact that both French and Punjabi languages belong to the Indo-European or Indo-Aryan group, there are several words in Punjabi, which are almost identical to French, for example, Roti (Bread) (French:"Roti"), Kameez (Shirt) (French:"Chemlse"), das (ten) (French: dix), and Tun (you-in casual conversation) (French "tu" means causal you). This could be the direct result of the Alan influence in France. Furthermore, we echo Professor McGovern's [103] words "The Sakas (Scythians or Massagetae) like their neighbors, the Alani, were destined to play an Important role in later history. But whereas the Alans spread westwards into Europe, the Sakas chose the lands to the South at one time were lords of much of Eastern Iran and Northern India (Punjab, etc.)".

History and study of the Jats: End of p.93

Prof. B.S. Dhillon[104] writes....6.3 Alan Place Names : Alans came to Italy, France, Spain, etc and surviving places in these countries witness the lasting Alan Influence. There are still several Alan place names in Spain, which Indicate that the Alan Influence there was not totally eradicated by the Visigoth domination[105].

According to Professor Sulimlrskl [106]some Alans settled in Lusitanla, modern Portugal and Spain west of Madrid. The modern city of Milan in Italy is in midst of various Alan settlements dating back to fifth century A.D.[107].

Some of the existing Alan place names in the Western countries are Alllanvllle (Haute-Marne, France), Alagna (Com. Pie monte, Italy), Alain (Loire-Inferieure, France), Alalncourt (Eure, France), Alan (Haute-Garonne, France), Alancon (Drome, France), Landrlano (Pavia, Italy) formerly Alan d'Rlano In twelfth century, Lanet (Aude, France), In 1320 A.D. was called Alanetum, and Breche d'Allanz (Hautes-Pyrenees, France). For more Information on the above names and more of such names see Ref.[108] page 137. In fact as per Ref.[109] there are over thirty French place names connected with Alans or Sarmatians.

External links

See also

References

  1. ↑ Golden, Peter B. (2009). "Alāns". In Fleet, Kate; Krämer, Gudrun; Matringe, Denis; Nawas, John; Rowson, Everett (eds.). Encyclopaedia of Islam, THREE. Brill Online. ISSN 1873-9830.
  2. ↑ Abaev, V.I.; Bailey, H.W. (1985). "Alans". In Yarshater, Ehsan (ed.). Encyclopædia Iranica, Volume I/8: Alafrank–Alp Arslan. London and New York: Routledge & Kegan Paul. pp. 801–803. ISBN 978-0-71009-097-3.
  3. ↑ Waldman, Carl; Mason, Catherine (2006). Encyclopedia of European. Infobase Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4381-2918-1. pp. 12–14
  4. ↑ Brzezinski, Richard; Mielczarek, Mariusz (2002). The Sarmatians, 600 BC–AD 450. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-485-6. pp. 10–11
  5. ↑ Zadneprovskiy, Y. A. (1 January 1994). "The Nomads of Northern Central Asia After The Invasion of Alexander". In Harmatta, János (ed.). History of Civilizations of Central Asia: The Development of Sedentary and Nomadic Civilizations, 700 B.C. to A.D. 250. UNESCO. pp. 457–472. ISBN 978-92-3-102846-5.
  6. ↑ Alemany, Agustí (2000). Sources on the Alans: A Critical Compilation. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-11442-5. p. 1.
  7. ↑ "The Hou Hanshu".
  8. ↑ "The Weilüe".
  9. ↑ Kozin, S.A., Sokrovennoe skazanie, M.-L., 1941. pp. 83–84
  10. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 1–2.
  11. ↑ Golden 2009.
  12. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 33, 99.
  13. ↑ Abaev V. I. Historical-Etymological Dictionary of Ossetian Language. V. 1. М.–Л., 1958. pp. 47–48.
  14. ↑ Alemany 2000, p. 4.
  15. ↑ Mallory & Adams 1997, p. 213: "Iran Alani (< *aryana) (the name of an Iranian group whose descendants are the Ossetes, one of whose subdivisions is the Iron [< *aryana-)), *aryranam (gen. pi.) ‘of the Aryans’ (> MPers Iran)."
  16. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 3–4: "Nowadays, however, only two possibilities are admitted as regards [the etymology of Alān], both closely related: (a) the adjective *aryāna- and (b) the gen. pl. *aryānām; in both cases the underlying OIran. ajective *arya- 'Aryan' is found. It is worth mentioning that although it is not possible to give an unequivocal option because both forms produce the same phonetic result, most researchers tend to favour the derivative *aryāna-, because it has a more appropriate semantic value ... The ethnic name *arya- underlying in the name of the Alans has been linked to the Av. Airiianəm Vaēǰō 'the Aryan plain'."
  17. ↑ Golden 2009.
  18. ↑ Alemany 2000, p. 4.
  19. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 3–4: "Nowadays, however, only two possibilities are admitted as regards [the etymology of Alān], both closely related: (a) the adjective *aryāna- and (b) the gen. pl. *aryānām; in both cases the underlying OIran. ajective *arya- 'Aryan' is found. It is worth mentioning that although it is not possible to give an unequivocal option because both forms produce the same phonetic result, most researchers tend to favour the derivative *aryāna-, because it has a more appropriate semantic value ... The ethnic name *arya- underlying in the name of the Alans has been linked to the Av. Airiianəm Vaēǰō 'the Aryan plain'."
  20. ↑ Golden 2009.
  21. ↑ Alemany 2000, p. 8.
  22. ↑ Alemany 2000, p. 5.
  23. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 5–7.
  24. ↑ Alemany 2000, pp. 5–7.
  25. ↑ Olbrycht, Marek Jan (2000). "Remarks on the Presence of Iranian Peoples in Europe and Their Asiatic Relations". Collectanea Celto-Asiatica Cracoviensia. Kraków: Księgarnia Akademicka. pp. 101–104. ISBN 978-8-371-88337-8.
  26. ↑ Melyukova, A. I. (1990). Sinor, Denis (ed.). The Cambridge History of Early Inner Asia. Vol. 1. Translated by Crookenden, Julia. Cambridge, United Kingdom; New York City, United States: Cambridge University Press. p. 97-117. ISBN 978-0-521-24304-9.
  27. ↑ Alemany, Agustí (2000). Sources on the Alans: A Critical Compilation. Brill. ISBN 978-90-04-11442-5.
  28. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  29. ↑ Zadneprovskiy 1994, pp. 467–468
  30. ↑ "Vologeses inscription".
  31. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  32. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  33. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  34. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  35. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  36. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  37. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  38. ↑ Vegetius 3.26, noted in passing by T.D. Barnes, "The Date of Vegetius" Phoenix 33.3 (Autumn 1979, pp. 254–257) p. 256. "The collocation of these three barbarian races does not recur a generation later", Barnes notes, in presenting a case for a late 4th-century origin for Vegetius' treatise.
  39. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus. Roman History. Book XXXI. II. 12
  40. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  41. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  42. ↑ Zadneprovskiy 1994, pp. 465–467
  43. ↑ Watson, Burton trans. 1993. Records of the Grand Historian by Sima Qian. Han Dynasty II. (Revised Edition), p. 234. Columbia University Press. New York. ISBN 0-231-08166-9, 0-231-08167-7 (pbk.)
  44. ↑ Zadneprovskiy 1994, pp. 465–467
  45. ↑ Giovanni de Marignolli, "John De' Marignolli and His Recollections of Eastern Travel", in Cathay and the Way Thither: Being a Collection of Medieval Notices of China, Volume 2, ed. Henry Yule (London: The Hakluyt Society, 1866), 316–317.
  46. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  47. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  48. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  49. ↑ Brzezinski & Mielczarek 2002, pp. 10–11
  50. ↑ Isaac Newton, Observations on Daniel and The Apocalypse of St. John (1733).
  51. ↑ Paul the Deacon, Historia Romana, XV, 1.
  52. ↑ Bachrach, Bernard S. (1973). A History of the Alans in the West. U of Minnesota Press. p. 63. ISBN 978-0816656998.
  53. ↑ Bachrach, Bernard S. (1973). A History of the Alans in the West. U of Minnesota Press. p. 77. ISBN 978-0816656998
  54. ↑ Bachrach, Bernard S. (1972). Merovingian Military Organization, 481–751. U of Minnesota Press. p. 10. ISBN 978-0816657001.
  55. ↑ Historical Atlas of the Classical World, 500 BC–AD 600. Barnes & Noble Books. 2000. p. 2.16. ISBN 978-0-7607-1973-2.
  56. ↑ "Alani Lusitaniam et Carthaginiensem provincias, et Wandali cognomine Silingi Baeticam sortiuntur" (Hydatius)
  57. ↑ "Spain: Visigothic Spain to c. 500". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. 2015
  58. ↑ Castritius, 2007
  59. ↑ For another rapid disintegration of an ethne in the Early Middle Ages, see Avars. (Pohl 1998:17f).
  60. ↑ Latham, Robert Gordon (1878). Russian and Turk From a Geographical, Ethnological, and Historical Point of View. W. H. Allen. p. 170.
  61. ↑ Milhazes, José. Os antepassados caucasianos dos portugueses Archived 2016-01-01 at the Wayback Machine – Rádio e Televisão de Portugal in Portuguese.
  62. ↑ Ivo Xavier Fernándes. Topónimos e gentílicos, Volume 1, 1941, p. 144.
  63. ↑ Reshetova, Irina; Afanasiev, Gennady "Афанасьев Г.Е., Добровольская М.В., Коробов Д.С., Решетова И.К. О культурной, антропологической и генетической специфике донских алан // Е.И. Крупнов и развитие археологии Северного Кавказа. М. 2014. С. 312–315".
  64. ↑ "ДДНК Сарматы, Аланы".
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  68. ↑ Ammianus Marcellinus. Roman History. Book XXXI. II. 21.
  69. ↑ History and study of the Jats/Chapter 6, pp. 88-90
  70. ↑ Ammianus. Marcellinus (born around A.D. 330). Translated by J.C. Rolfe. Vol. 3. Harvard University Press. Cambridge. Massachusetts, 1956. pp. 387-395.
  71. ↑ Kephart, C., Races of Mankind, Peter Owen Limited, London, 1960, pp. 463, 493,354,426, 512, 502.
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  74. ↑ Barstow, A.E. (Major), The Sikhs: An Ethnology, reprinted by B.R. Publishing Corporation, Deihl, India, 1985, pp. 152-155, 66, 89, first published In 1928.
  75. ↑ Lane-Poole, S., Mediaevallndia~ reprinted by Haskell House Publishers, Ltd., New York, 1970, pp. 40-43.
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  104. ↑ History and study of the Jats/Chapter 6, pp. 94
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  107. ↑ Bachrach, B.S., A History of the Huns in the West, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1973, pp. 90, 1-25,59,52.
  108. ↑ Bachrach, B.S., A History of the Huns in the West, University of Minnesota Press, Minneapolis, 1973, pp. 90, 1-25,59,52.
  109. ↑ Sullmirski. T.. The Sarmatlans. Praeger Publishers New York. 1970~ pp. 27.81. 197, 187.34. 175-176.202-203. 19.
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