01-22-2016, 04:59 PM
(This post was last modified: 01-23-2016, 12:10 AM by Michael Kerr.)
So what have we got so far in our quest for the origins of the Alans? Wusun, nomadic elements of Kangchu which was probably ruled by a Tocharian or Yueh-chih ruling class who were also overlords of the Yancai (Alanliao), However according to Alemany in his book Sources of the Alans the word Alanliao in the Hou Han Shu could be a scribal error as the later Weilu talks about 2 separate states, Alan and Liu which were situated north and north-east of the Caspian Sea around present day Kazakhstan, (could be Aorsi) or were the Alans a confederation of assorted groups? Were Alans around longer than that if we connect them to the Roxolani and Aorsi which means the Alans/Alani predated these groups, and were they split into western and eastern groups?
Thirdly, the war between Hsien, king of Yarkand and Kangchu in 50 AD which directly interrupted trade between the Yancai and Kangchu which could have led to a realignment of the Yancai to look west for more opportunities.
Maybe climate change and disease amongst their herds could have had some effect on groups turning west but not many records on that although there is some mention of "rinderpest" originating in Central Asia, decimating herds of livestock around 375 to 386 AD which even affected cattle in Roman territory but that is much later than the period we are talking about.
Of course later on in 4th Century the Black Huns probably pushed more eastern Alans west into the Roman empire and the Caucasus, which in turn pushed the Goths onto a collision course with Rome.
Sources both Chinese (Hou Han Shu, Weilue) and Roman (Tacitus, Josephus) allude to a new group or confederation which formed mid way through 1st century AD and called themselves Alans. But what about the Roxolani who first appeared in 107 BC according to Strabo and the Aorsi/As also mentioned by Strabo appearing around 64/47 BC.
Frederic Teggart in his book Rome and China - Correlations in History tried to list the various conditions leading to a rapid expansion of the Alans in the 1st century and putting them into some sort of order. Just a quick list below.
Firstly the war carried on by the Romans against firstly Mithradates III of Bosporus between 46-49 AD followed by them occupying Chersonesus in 54, and then Tyras on the Dniester in 56 as well as various wars defending Chersonesus. All these things affected
a) The trade of the Siraci and tribes to the north of them.
b) The trade of the Aorsi with the Medes and Armenians.
c) The trade of the Aorsi with the tribes of the lower Don.
d) The migration of the Iazyges to Hungary.
e) Trouble with the Roxolani in 68-70 AD on the Danube.
Around the same time Tiberius Plautius Silvanus Aelianus carried out the transfer of thousands of Trans-Danubians into Moesia so there must have been upheavals further east causing a conveyor belt effect in the west.
Wars between Rome and Parthia over Armenia would have interrupted trade with Sarmatian groups as well.
Secondly, in the east we have the disruption of the Hsiung-nu affecting its western neighbours in 48-49 AD which resulted in interruption of trade between Central Asian tribes with the tribes around the Volga and Kama rivers. The Hsiung-nuby this time had split into northern and southern groups but still remained a threat to its smaller neighbours.
Thirdly, the war between Hsien, king of Yarkand and Kangchu in 50 AD which directly interrupted trade between the Yancai and Kangchu which could have led to a realignment of the Yancai to look west for more opportunities.
Maybe climate change and disease amongst their herds could have had some effect on groups turning west but not many records on that although there is some mention of "rinderpest" originating in Central Asia, decimating herds of livestock around 375 to 386 AD which even affected cattle in Roman territory but that is much later than the period we are talking about.
Of course later on in 4th Century the Black Huns probably pushed more eastern Alans west into the Roman empire and the Caucasus, which in turn pushed the Goths onto a collision course with Rome.
Regards
Michael Kerr
Michael Kerr
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
"You can conquer an empire from the back of a horse but you can't rule it from one"
