Albani of Caucasus and Albanians

Abstract

Time after time in the scientific literature, and not only in it, the hypothesis appears that Albanians came from the Caucasus to the place where they are today. Such a hypothesis is laid before researchers and the public, given its mention in various historical sources of a territory with the name Albani. The phenomenon is not only scientific since it is used by politics as well. Thus, in these last 150 years, when history has been often in the service of short-term nationalist politics, it is misused, especially in the Balkans, where the interests of the states established ahead of the others trampled on those of neighboring nations who had not yet created their own state. They do not spare in this battle, though loosing always without even starting, in using “thesis” and “historical arguments”, to raise theories and territorial revindications at the expense of others. One such case is that of Nicoclés, who, in his dissertation, reassumed this thesis, which is rejected by Fallmerayer.
The first mention of Albani and its inhabitants, Albans, is made in the battle of Gaugamele in 331 B.C., when they were lined along with the Persian army against Alexander the Great. They are mentioned also in various sources as a people living near Armenia and Iberia (Georgia today), thus as a political important entity in the Caucasian region. Mention has continued in Greek and Roman sources, and in the Armenian, Byzantine, Arab ones from I to VIII centuries and later on. People, however, know few things in this regard. There is little linguistic evidence and archaeological data (Mingeçam-Azerbaijan). Even if any written literature has existed previously, it is now missing. Only the alphabet and a few fragmented inscriptions have survived to-date but still expect to be deciphered. From this picture it is understood that there does not exist even the smallest connection between Albanians (Albanites - Arvanites) with Aluans (Albans of Caucasus). Their connection has been and remains an invention both sought after and malicious. Moreover, not a single scholar of Aluans or other peoples of Caucasus for more than half a century has even thought about such a link, because it really has not existed and it is not documented.