Armorica & the Alans

Armorica is a part of the Frankish controlled lands. It is run as part of Frankia by the Alans, an Iranian born horsemen who eventually travelled from the Middle East into Europe, settled in the region well before the Franks arrived. After they beat Clovis, the Merovingian king of the Franks at the time, they wanted peace. This led them to reach an accord were they were seen as part of the Frankish Empire, and are now left to run their country, and practice Christianity, in the name of the Franks and has been that way since after 503 AD. It is an area of land running from the northern central part of the empire into the eastern part of Brittany (Parisius is to the east). Because of their skill with horses, and fighting on horseback, they supply mounted troops to the Frankish military, both as a permanent set of units, and some levy units when necessary.
The region is fertile, and they are able to grow crops & breed horses, as well as other livestock. Many of the tribe practice fighting techniques that allow them to serve as troops. Most are mounted though a few also serve as basic infantry and as militia. They have access to the technology levels and equipment of the Franks, and in return can supply foodstuffs, horses & horse riding techniques, timber, and metal ores to the empire. They also act as a bulwark to the remaining Romano-Celts to the north-west, and stop any incursions from that part of Europe, as well as being close enough to Britain, any incursion inland from there could possibly hit the empire from that angle. They make use of mounted messengers giving them an edge over many other peoples.
Many of the Alans remained in other countries mainly around the Black Sea and northern Middle East, and probably not recognised their brothers in the land of Armorica. They are aware of China, and the Silk Road.
The Roman historian Ammianus Marcellinus wrote of the Alani as of "being of great stature and beauty, their hair is somewhat yellow, their eyes are terribly fierce."
With Armorica there is enclaves of Gnomes & Halflings in this region, and they both get on fairly well with the Alani. The Gomes inventiveness, and the Halfling peacefulness & knack of being good at farming & animal husbandry is in great demand by many Alani. Both humanoids are found in Armorica settlements, to a greater or lesser degree, though many still believe in their own gods, and not Christian. This causes no problems as neither group will force their religion on the other.

Type

Geopolitical, Country