Within Russian and Central European scholarship, the Alans and Bulgars have been framed as historically transient, migratory nations that left an enduring cultural footprint across the Eurasian landmass. This paper examines how Russian, Tatar, Hungarian, Bulgarian, and Ossetian sources have shaped historiographical narratives about these groups, emphasizing their role in constructing national and pan-Eurasianist identities. Using the theoretical framework of authorized heritage discourse, the study analyzes how knowledge production on the Bulgars and Alans has been intertwined with imperial and national historiography, including among imperial Russia's Orientalists. It explores how Eurasianist narratives—highlighting cultural eclecticism, diasporic influence, and an east-west trajectory of influence—have been mobilized in different political contexts, from the late Russian Empire to the post-Soviet era. The paper critically examines how these narratives intersect with broader imperial strategies of governance in the Caucasus and Balkans, aligning with shifting geopolitical objectives. By situating Alan and Bulgar historiography within the institutional frameworks of Russian Oriental Studies, the paper contributes to discussions on the dialectic of heritage in national and imperial identities. It further contextualizes the ways in which scholarship on steppe and nomadic cultures was instrumentalized to mediate East-West relations, shaping modern understandings of Eurasian identity.