10-11-2013, 06:34 AM
Hello, All
Nothing like posting on a dead thread. :whistle:
You all seem to have a good handle on the Roxolani. By the 3rd century, they had combined with the non-Alanic Iaz to form what Ammianus called the "Sarmatians." Some Roxolani did move up into or through Poland but the majority settled pastorally in Hungary. These "Sarmatians" raided down into Illyricum where they continuously evaded Theodosius the Second until he was relieved and sent back to his home in Spain. So much for Theodosius the Great, the same man who couldn't beat Fritigern at a later date.
The second Alanic group to arrive in Roman consciousness was the Taifali, determinedly referred to by obsolete 20th century authors as "Germans." If they were Germans, they had exceedingly odd customs. The Aorsi and Sirices disappeared totally from the record, evidently swallowed by the major group of Alans proper (the so-called Late Sarmatian Culture). All of these tribes, after the Iaz, had Eastern roots with a significant Asiatic admixture... especially within the women. Aksakov even related them to the "Usun" (Wusun). If any of these people were related to the Rus it would have been through sporadic marriages.
Nothing like posting on a dead thread. :whistle:
You all seem to have a good handle on the Roxolani. By the 3rd century, they had combined with the non-Alanic Iaz to form what Ammianus called the "Sarmatians." Some Roxolani did move up into or through Poland but the majority settled pastorally in Hungary. These "Sarmatians" raided down into Illyricum where they continuously evaded Theodosius the Second until he was relieved and sent back to his home in Spain. So much for Theodosius the Great, the same man who couldn't beat Fritigern at a later date.
The second Alanic group to arrive in Roman consciousness was the Taifali, determinedly referred to by obsolete 20th century authors as "Germans." If they were Germans, they had exceedingly odd customs. The Aorsi and Sirices disappeared totally from the record, evidently swallowed by the major group of Alans proper (the so-called Late Sarmatian Culture). All of these tribes, after the Iaz, had Eastern roots with a significant Asiatic admixture... especially within the women. Aksakov even related them to the "Usun" (Wusun). If any of these people were related to the Rus it would have been through sporadic marriages.
Alan J. Campbell
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
member of Legio III Cyrenaica and the Uncouth Barbarians
Author of:
The Demon's Door Bolt (2011)
Forging the Blade (2012)
"It's good to be king. Even when you're dead!"
Old Yuezhi/Pazyrk proverb
