ALANI, eastern division of the Sarmatians, half-caste Scyths, a wandering people resembling Mongols. First met with north of the Caspian, then (c. 1st century A.D.) spreading into the steppes of Russia, the Alani made incursions into both the Danubian and the Caucasian provinces of the Roman empire. By the Huns they were cut into two portions, of which the western joined the Ger manic nations in their invasion of southern Europe, and, follow ing the fortunes of the Vandals, disappeared in North Africa. Those of the eastern division, though dispersed about the steppes until late mediaeval times, were forced by fresh invading hordes into the Caucasus, where they remain as the Ossetes. (See SARMATAE and SCYTHIA.)