"The Alani are first mentioned by Dionysius the geographer (B. C. 30-10) who joins them with the Daci and the Tauri, and again places them between the latter and the Agathyrsi. A similar position (in the south of Russia in Europe, the modern Ukraine) is assigned to them by Pliny and Josephus. Seneca places them further west upon the Ister. Ptolemy has two bodies of Alani, one in the position above described, the other in Scythia within the Imaus, north and partly east of the Caspian. It must have been from these last, the successors, and, according to some, the descendants of the ancient Massagetæ, that the Alani came who attacked Pacorus and Tiridates [in Media and Armenia, A. D. 75]. … The result seems to have been that the invaders, after ravaging and harrying Media and Armenia at their pleasure, carried off a vast number of prisoners and an enormous booty into their own country." _G. Rawlinson, Sixth Great Oriental Monarchy, chapter 17._ _E. H. Bunbury, History of Ancient Geography, chapter 6, note H._ "The first of this [the Tartar] race known to the Romans were the Alani. In the fourth century they pitched their tents in the country between the Volga and the Tanais, at an equal distance from the Black Sea and the Caspian." _J. C. L. Sismondi, Fall of the Roman Empire, chapter 3._ {30} ALANS: A. D. 376. Conquest by the Huns. See GOTHS (VISIGOTHS): A. D. 376. ALANS: A. D. 406-409. Final Invasion of Gaul. See GAUL: A. D. 406-409. ALANS: A. D. 409-414. Settlement in Spain. See SPAIN: A. D. 409-414. ALANS: A. D. 429. With the Vandals in Africa. See VANDALS: A. D. 429-439. ALANS: A. D. 451. At the Battle of Chalons. See HUNS: A. D. 451. ----------ALANS: End---------- ALARCOS, Battle of (A. D. 1195). See ALMOHADES. ALARIC'S RAVAGES IN GREECE AND CONQUEST OF ROME. See GOTHS: A. D. 395; 400-403, and ROME: A. D. 408-410. ALARODIANS. IBERIANS. COLCHIANS.