Surface area : 8.000 km2
Population: 650.000
Capital: Vladikafkas It is an autonomous republic connected
to the Russian Federation that is located in the north of Caucasus. Osets that arecalled
as "Alan" in the language of Oset, "Owsethi" in Georgian language,
"Osetinski" in Russian language and "Ossen" in German language is a
community that took shelter in Caucasus upon the pressure of Huns since B.C.7-8 centuries.
Alans called as Aso by
Chinese people (=Alens=Osetins) entered into the Eastern Europe in the first century and
settled down in the east of Don River, in other words in Alanya Sarmatiyesi. Alans are
shown as the Sarmat tribes settled in the east of the Don River within the geography of
Sarmats. Nevertheless, it will be suitable to accept that Alans pertain to Sarznat
community and to state that Alans constitute a group of Sarmats.
In the course of time,
Alans achieved a great expansion field and influence that covered the Internal Caucasus
(in other words, the region between the Kuban River and the Caspian Sea). But Alans were
mostly composed of foreign elements of inhabitants (who were not Alans), so they could not
establish an independent administration. Therefore, there are different evaluations in the
observations of the travellers and authors and their consequential convictions about the
regions, conditions and characteristics of Alans.
However, some of Alans
who had settled in Caucasus preserved their existence. We can accept that Digurs living
today in the Caucasus as a Caucasian element are the remaining ones of Alans (Osets). The
Russian settlement in the Northern Osetya started pursuant to the invasaion of the
Vladikafkas Castle. Today, there are 6 citis and 6 small centres of population in the
Northern Osetya. Wheat, maize, potato, hemp and fruits are grown up particularly in the
lower skirts of the country and near Mozdok through the irrigations carried out. In the
higher sections, sheep and cattle breeding is still carried out.
|
