书名: The Alans ( Alani in latin or Alanoi in greek) were a nomadic tribe of horsemen of Iranian origin, dwelling in Ossetia in the northern Caucasia during the Classical Antiquity. There were related to the Scytes or the Sarmates. After being defeated by the Huns in the fourth century, some of them moved westward and settled in France in the Loire valley around Orleans. A part of this group, in alliance with the Vandals, a Germanic tribe, moved further west to Spain. They left their name to various cities in France like Allaines, Allainville, Alaincourt. But it is also plausible that the first name Alan, popular in Brittany, and which was used as soon as the fourth century in Armorica (ancient name for the part of Gaule including the Brittany peninsula), has also a Celtic origin.More informations at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alans, http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alains.
