Alania

Kingdom of Alania
Late 9th century[1]–1240
Status	Kingdom
Capital	Maghas
Common languages	Alanic / Proto-Ossetian
Religion	Scythian religion Christianity (10th century)[2]
Government	Monarchy
Historical era	Middle Ages
• Independence from the Khazars	Late 9th century[1]
• Fall of Maghas during the Mongol conquests	1240
Preceded by Succeeded by Khazar Khaganate Mongol Empire

Alania was a medieval kingdom of the Iranian Alans (Proto-Ossetians)^[3][4][5][6] that flourished between the 9th–13th centuries in the Northern Caucasus, roughly in the location of latter-day Circassia, Chechnya, Ingushetia, and modern North Ossetia–Alania. With its capital at Maghas, the location of which is still disputed, it became independent from the Khazars in the late 9th century. It was Christianized by a Byzantine missionary soon after, in the early 10th century.

According to 10th century historian al-mas'udi, indicates that the Alan kingdom stretched from Daghestan to Abkhazia.^[7] Reaching its peak in the 11th century, under the rule of king Durgulel,^[8] it profited from controlling a vital trade route through the Darial Pass. It maintained close relations not only with the Byzantine Empire but also the Kingdom of Georgia as well as the small Dagestani kingdom of Sarir, the first two also employing Alan mercenaries, who were infamous horsemen. It was responsible for spreading Orthodox Christianity among neighbouring pagan peoples such as the Circassians and Vainakhs. The kingdom eventually declined from the 12th century and had largely ceased to function as a political entity by the early 13th century. In 1239/1240 the Mongols invaded, stormed and destroyed the capital Maghas in the process.