Sarmates

The Sarmates ( Sauromates for Sarmates protohistoric) are old a wandering people scythic of S of the steppes, pertaining on the ethno-linguistics plan to the branch Iran septentrional IEN of the great Indo-European unit. They were established at the origin between the Don and the the Ural.

History

The History of Sarmates is known indirectly by the Greek historians, then Roman of the period and thanks to many archaeological or toponymic testimonys.

Origins

Probable Sarmates protohistoric (known under the name of Sauromates) took part in particular in forwardings of the Scythes against Darius with the {{S|V|E}} before our era. They are known at Hérodote.

Sarmates histories appear with the {{S|IV|E}} before our era (Eudoxe of Rhodos) and extend since the the Ural with the European detriment of the Scythes.

It is with Sarmates supplant the latter in Ukraine. Their push towards the west continues until: one finds their traces of the the Baltic until the Caspian Sea.

As from first century BC, whereas they dominate the European steppe, one distinguishes several (four?) tribes sarmates. The Iazyges, the Be urgent, the Roxolans and the Scythes royal, which recognized the authority of a king, will form a coalition.

They found before 100 a. J. - C. a capital in Dacie (current Romania), named Sarmizegetusa.

Roman period

Certain groups of Sarmates obtained the statute of federate (allies being able to lie in the empire, against military service, by Fœdus , “ traité ”) by Rome to protect the camps located on the Voie Clutched built into 40 after J. - C. on the axis Rome - Boulogne-sur-Mer such as that of Cora in the Yonne. Three of the five named cities Sermaise in France owe their name with these various relays.

Sarmates were in the beginning wandering, stockbreeders and warriors. Their riders became famous in all the Roman Empire, under the name of Cataphractaire S, to be entirely covered, like their Chevaux, of Cuirasse S called cataphractes.

Period of Goths

Part of Sarmates was subjected by the Goths between 200 and 300. At the 4th century of our era, the sarmates independent groups were the Roxolan S and the Lazyge S of Pannonia, at the Roman border, and the Alains of Ukraine and Russia southernmost, close to the Ostrogoths, the Taifales.

In 376, Sarmates of the Black Sea were combined with the Huns to destroy the Royaume of Goths and took share with the hunnic invasions of the 5th century in Western Europe.

Culture

Because of the period and geographical surface concerned, several cultures were allotted to Sauromates protohistoric and Sarmates: culture of Prokhorovka, “average culture sarmate” (second century BC)… Certain features, however, are characteristic:

The culture sarmate of the origins seems to have conferred an particular importance to the women, equal to the men in statute, warlike and huntresses. Many female tombs richly decorated and equipped with weapons corroborate this idea for. At the 2nd century of our era, a queen sarmate, Amagê, are also known, perhaps indicating a permanence of this cultural feature.

At the time Roman, celebrates it heavy cavalry sarmate (lancers Cataphractaire S, in particular represented on the Colonne Trajane) also testifies to the importance of the warlike culture of these people.

Heritage

The name of Sarmates is in the beginning many toponyms on the territories of the Roman Empire of occident, like that of the village of Sermizelles in the Yonne: Sermizelles is the contraction of Sarmate and uze is “the hill of Sarmates”.

Several orthographies designating the people sarmatic exist in the bibliography:

Roxolanes or Roxelanes and Roxolans;
Iazygues or Iazyges or Lazygues?

On the military level, and via Goths which them mode of combat influenced, Sarmates are at the origin of the heavy cavalry.

Lastly, as of Hérodote, Sarmates are associated with the legend of the Amazones. This one probably derives from the particular status which the woman had, warlike and huntress, in their company.

See too

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