Book contents
- The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 850–1240
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought
- The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 850–1240
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Maps
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the Text
- Abbreviations
- Introduction: Framing Alania
- Chapter 1 Forming the Kingdom of Alania, c.800–880
- Chapter 2 Appropriating Christianity in Alania, c.800–932
- Chapter 3 The ‘Power of the Foreign’ and the Political Economy of the Central North Caucasus in the Tenth Century
- Chapter 4 The Christian Kingdom of Alania, c.960–1090
- Chapter 5 The Byzantine and Georgian Courts and the Kingdom of Alania, c.970–1080
- Chapter 6 The Fall of the Kingdom of Alania and the Transformation of the North Caucasus, c.1090–1240
- Conclusion: Beyond Failure
- Appendix: The Dorgholelid Family in the Eleventh Century
- Bibliography
- Index
Chapter 6 - The Fall of the Kingdom of Alania and the Transformation of the North Caucasus, c.1090–1240
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 17 December 2025
Book contents
- The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 850–1240
- Cambridge Studies in Medieval Life and Thought
- The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 850–1240
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Illustrations
- Maps
- Acknowledgements
- Note on the Text
- Abbreviations
- Introduction: Framing Alania
- Chapter 1 Forming the Kingdom of Alania, c.800–880
- Chapter 2 Appropriating Christianity in Alania, c.800–932
- Chapter 3 The ‘Power of the Foreign’ and the Political Economy of the Central North Caucasus in the Tenth Century
- Chapter 4 The Christian Kingdom of Alania, c.960–1090
- Chapter 5 The Byzantine and Georgian Courts and the Kingdom of Alania, c.970–1080
- Chapter 6 The Fall of the Kingdom of Alania and the Transformation of the North Caucasus, c.1090–1240
- Conclusion: Beyond Failure
- Appendix: The Dorgholelid Family in the Eleventh Century
- Bibliography
- Index
Summary
Chapter 6 explores the downfall of the Kingdom of Alania. It argues that Alania split into multiple competing princedoms during the twelfth century, and that this development cannot be blamed on Mongol or Qipchaq invasions. Rather, increasing aristocratic competition led to intercommunal conflicts, made more acute by the ability of Alan aristocrats to ally with Qipchaq nobles and bring in allied Qipchaq troops. It concludes with a brief overview of Alania during and after the Mongol invasions of the North Caucasus in 1238–40.
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- The North Caucasian Kingdom of Alania, 850–1240 , pp. 238 - 274Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025
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