ALAND ISLANDS, Aland. An archipelago of sonic 300 small islands and rocks, in the Gov eminent of Abo-Bjfirnehorg, Finland, at the en trance of the Gulf of Bothnia (Map: Russia, B 2 ). The narrow pass of sea separating them on the west from the Swedish coast at Grisslehamn is known as the Aland Bay (Aland llaf). About eighty of them are inhabited. The group has an area of 556 square miles. Pop., 18,400. Al though these rocky isles are covered with hut a thin stratum of soil, they bear Scotch lir, spruce, and birch trees, and with proper cultivation pro duce barley and oats, besides affording subsist ence to a hardy breed of cattle. The inhabitants, of Swedish origin, are skillful sailors, fishermen, and seal-hunters. The largest of the islands, which gives its name (signifying "land of streams") to the whole group, is about 18; miles long by 14 broad. it is tolerably wooded and fruitful. These islands belonged formerly to Sweden, but were seized by Russia in 1809. Pre vious to this they lied several times changed hands between these two powers. In 1717 the Suedes were defeated by the Russians in a naval engagement near the first important ex ploit of the Muscovite navy. The importance of these islands as a military position led to the construction, in the reign of the Emperor.Nicho las T., of those strong fortifications at Bomar sund, which. in August, 1S54. were destroyed by the Anglo-French force, commanded by Sir Charles Napier and Ilaraguay ALA'NI (1k. A lanoi1 . Nomadic
tribes of Eastern origin who spread over Europe during the decline of the Roman Empire. They probably were first encountered by the Romans when Pompey, in the Mithridatic War, led an expedition into the Caucasus. in 276 A.D. they were checked by the Emperor Tacitus in their at tempt to go eastward into Persia. The Iluns gave them a severe defeat on the Tanais (now Don) in 375, and then the Alani divided, sonic going east, but the larger portion joining their conquerors in an onslaught upon the Goths. With the Vandals and Suevi they entered Gaul in 40Q, and later crossed the Pyrenees and founded set tlements in Lusitania• where they lived for some time in peace. in 418 they were attacked by the Visigoths, their king was slain. and they became subject to Gunderie, king of the Vandals, losing completely their national independence. Later they served under the Visigothic king, Theodoric, hut they sympathized with the Huns, and their desertion at Chalons (451) came near cringing defeat upon the Roman army. They were mentioned occasionally in later times, and seem to have kept their independence in the East after the sixth century. In l221 Genghis Khan defeated them, and they were so completely sub jugated in 1237 by Batu Khan that their name disappeared from history.