People of Germanic or Sarmatian origin first documented north of the lower Danube in the mid-3rd century AD; fought alternately alongside and against various Gothic groups and Rome.
Later settled within the Roman Empire in western Gaul (Poitou) as a distinct military-service community from the late 4th century, supplying cavalry to the late Roman army and early Merovingian forces; the region retained a distinct 'Thifalia' identity into the 6th century.
Covers lower-Danube Germanic/Sarmatian-mixed groups contemporaneous with the Taifali's earliest attestation.