Alans

Alans, Iranian-speaking nomadic tribe of the ancient world, one of the peoples known as Sarmatians. They first appeared in history north of the Caspian Sea; during the 2nd, 3rd, and 4th centuries, they migrated westwards into the eastern provinces of the Roman Empire. They then divided into two groups. One group continued to migrate westwards with the Germanic peoples, appearing in Gaul, Lusitania (Portugal), and finally North Africa, where they merged with the Vandals. The other group, wandering eastwards, settled in the Caucasus Mountains, where they have survived into modern times as the Ossetians of the Republic of Georgia.