Alanic Sarmatian influence in the 5th century

[Flavivs Aetivs]

Philippe Richardot in his book La Fin De L’armée Romaine (284-476) wrote that the Alans fighting for Aetius at Chalons would have looked a lot different to the Alans that fought with Saphrax and Alatheus at Adrianople as they would have been armed & equipped with Roman equipment but they probably would have still used the classic steppe tactics though with feigned retreats and massed disciplined charges a feature of their style of warfare. They probably faced Alans fighting for Attila as some Alan tribes submitted to the Huns and there were a lot of Alan/Sarmatian connections with Greuthungi Goths & the Amali rulers, who fought with Attila at Chalons. Apparently Attila was angry with the leader of the Alans, Sangiban as he thought there was an agreement where Sangiban was supposed to surrender Orleans to Attila thereby allowing the Hunnic army to cross the Loire river and raid Visigoth territory so there was still contact between Alans to a degree, on both sides of the fence in 451AD.

The idea that Sangiban was supposed to surrender Orleans is IMO highly over-emphasized considering the Alans of Goar (later Sangiban) were almost fanatically loyal to the Romans and Aetius in the primary sources.

But yeah, you wouldn't happen to be able to give me the reference for this would you? This is extremely useful.