The Alans or Alani were a Parsee (Persian) people who settled in Western Europe during the Middle Ages.
They are also known as the Ossetians and this tribe is found in Russia’s province Ossetia.
Another name for the Alans is the Sarmatians (or Cimmerians or Scythians).
The Alans and the Germans were largely responsible for the sacking and burning of Italy and Italian-occupied Gaul (today France) in the 300s.
Both groups of people intermarried and it is not surprising to find Germans (and English who are their kin in England) with swarthy skin.
The West European name Alan is a tribute to the Alans.
