Ossetia
Ossetia is a region in the northern Caucasus Mountains, inhabited by the Ossetians. It is currently politically divided between Alania in Russia (formerly North Ossetia), and South Ossetia in Georgia.The Ossetians were originally descendants of Iranian-speaking tribes from Central Asia. They became Christians during the early Middle Ages. Under Mongol rule, they were pushed out of their medieval homeland south of the Don river in present-day Russia and migrated towards and over the Caucasus mountains, where they formed three distinct territorial entities. Digor in the west came under the influence of the neighboring Kabard people, who introduced Islam. Tualläg in the south became what is now South Ossetia, part of Georgia; and Iron in the north became what is now North Ossetia/Alania, under Russian rule from 1767. Majority of Ossetians, those from North Ossetia, are Muslims. A minority, those from South Ossetia, are Eastern Orthodox.
Most Ossetians today live along the central part of the Greater Caucasus Range in the two Ossetias. A large Ossetian diaspora lives in Turkey, and Ossetians can be found in Russia, France, Sweden, Syria, USA, Canada and other countries all around the world.