07-15-2014, 01:47 PM
Quote:My interest, naturally, is the Alan migration. We get absolutely no figures from any sources. Only after the Alanic confederation began to break up, do we find mention in Roman sources... such as the Goar Alans reported above by Michael.
What we cannot imagine is the huge and lengthy migration as it crossed the steppes, from east of the Araxes to the Caucasus where a huge number of Alans split from the main group and settled in the lower valleys to form ancient Alania... many nobles eventually aiding the Yuan against the Chinese. Then the remaining body continued west, entering Roman space, some joining the Goths, others going up into Pannonia. According to statistics, Gratian accepted 30,000 Alans into the western army. This fighting force, if 1/5 of the Pannonian Alanic population, accounts for a civilian number of 150,000 people... yet this was perhaps only 1/2 (or less) of the original migrating group from the eastern steppes. If so, the Alanic migration was absolutely MASSIVE.
Alan, where did you get the information about 'Gratian accepting 30,000 Alans into the western army' from? The only sources I can find about Alan's in Gratian's service are that they formed his personal bodyguard and it was claimed that this so upset the troops that this is was ultimately led to his assassination.
Adrian Coombs-Hoar
