Mount Baba, on which was Mangoup, is semicircular in fonn and rises over 1,000 feet above the superb Ouraouss defile, and the Kodja-sali and Tchokrak valleys; the summit commands an extensive view, and guards the passes that lead from the steppe to the coast; it dominates the mountainous country of the Tauric chain, even to the Heracleotic Chersonesus and some of its baj'S, and as a crypt town was easily rendered inaccessible. Dubois by Google inclined to the opinion that Mangoup was the site of Chabum, one of the fortresses constructed by Scylunis, the Tauro-Scythian king.
After the disappearance of the Huns from the peninsula, towards the end of the fourth century, the Goths confined themselves to the mountainous parts of the Taurida, which they called the country of Dorou ' (possibly a corruption of Tauri), selecting this formidable position for their stronghold. They were Christians, having been converted in the early part of that same century by some captives they had made in their wars with the Romans, and the Scriptures were soon written in their own tongue, by Ulphilas, who was consecrated in 341 at Constantinople, to be their bishop.
Upon the death of their prelate, 547-548, the Tetraxite Goths,> for thus were the Goths of the Tauric peninsula entitled, applied to Justinian, entreating him to send to them a bishop. The Emperor complied with their request,* and at the same time constructed fortifications at Gorzoubites, ' Gourzouff,' and Alustum, ' Aloushta,' and ' the long walls, for the protection of his friendly Goths, a colony of 3,000 shepherds and warriors'; thus were they left in peace, following their agricultural pursuits, until the conquest of the Taurida, including Gothia, by the Khozars, to whom they were compelled to pay tribute.