For many centuries, all of Eastern Europe was the patrimony of the Sarmatian tribes and bore the name Sarmatia, and the Sarmatians themselves, chained from head to toe in impenetrable scaly armor (not only horsemen, but also their horses), armed with three-meter spears and heavy swords, were rightfully considered the best plate cavalry of the Ancient World. The Sarmatians dealt a severe blow to the Scythian state, undertook campaigns in Transcaucasia and Asia Minor, fought with Rome - they went down in history as the "first knights" and "thunderstorm of the legions." The Romans themselves, knowing the strength of the Sarmatians, not only concluded allied treaties with them, using their heavily armed cavalry in their campaigns (sometimes even as mercenaries), but also borrowed armor, weapons and banners from them - in the late Empire, along with eagles, Sarmatian dragons towered over the legions. This richly illustrated encyclopedia of a leading specialist in the military history of ancient peoples recreates in detail the military affairs of the Sarmatians and the Alans who replaced them in the historical arena, whose heirs were modern Ossetians. Strategy and tactics, the organization of troops and command, weapons and marching life, the war on the water and the use of combat dogs - everything that has come down to us in historical sources is discussed in detail in this book.