Alanites

The Alanites were a medieval Iranian people, a branch of the Alans who migrated south into the Caucasus region and Persia. They were known for their involvement in various conflicts and alliances in the area from roughly the 12th to the 14th centuries. Historical sources often mention them as mercenaries in the service of different rulers, including the Georgians, Mongols, and various local dynasties. They played a significant role in the political landscape of the Caucasus, sometimes raiding and sometimes forming alliances based on the shifting power dynamics of the era. Over time, many Alanites assimilated into other populations or were absorbed into different tribal confederations, contributing to the ethnic tapestry of the region. Their exact fate is subject to scholarly debate, but they are generally considered ancestors of the modern-day Ossetians.