Scordisci

The Scordisci (Ancient Greek: Σκορδίσκοι; Latin: Scordiscii, Scordistae) were an Iron Age cultural group who emerged after the Celtic settlement of Southeast Europe, and who were centered in the territory of present-day Serbia, at the confluence of the Savus (Sava), Dravus (Drava), Margus (Morava) and Danube rivers.

They were historically notable from the beginning of the third century BC until the turn of the common era, and consolidated into a tribal state.

At their zenith, their core territory stretched over regions comprising parts of present-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, while their influence spread even further.

[10] Extensive La Tène type finds, of local production, are noted in Pannonia as well as northern Moesia Superior, attesting to the concentration of Celtic settlements and cultural contacts.

[11] Patterson et al. 2022 analyzed one Late La Tène 150-50 BCE sample of a 25-35 male adult from grave which contained weaponry and dog skeleton in today's town of Osijek, Croatia.

[13] The Scordisci were centered in the territory of present-day Serbia, at the confluence of the Sava,[14] Drava[15] and Danube rivers.

At their zenith, their core territory stretched over regions comprising parts of present-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria and Romania, while their influence spread even further.

[22] They controlled the various Pannonian groups in the region, extracting tribute and enjoying the status of the most powerful group in the central Balkans (see the Triballi, Autariatae, Dardanians and Moesians), and they erected fortresses in Singidunum[23] (today's city of Belgrade) and Taurunum (modern Zemun).

[27] In 118 BC, according to a memorial[28] stone discovered near Thessalonica, Sextus Pompeius, probably the grandfather of the triumvir, was slain fighting against them near Stobi.

They even advanced as far as Delphi and plundered the temple; but Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus finally overcame them in 88 BC and drove them across the Danube.

The Dacian conquest of the Scordisci around 50 BC, likely involved a combination of military campaigns, negotiations, and possibly the establishment of a vassal relationship.