Scordisci

Scordisci
Independent tribal state
278 BC–15 BC
Tribal state of the Scordisci (3rd–1st century BC)
Capital		Singidunum (present-day Belgrade)
Languages		Gaulish, Paleo-Balkanic
Religion		Paleo-Balkan
Political structure		Independent tribal state
Historical era		Antiquity
•	Established	278 BC
•	Disestablished	15 BC
Succeeded by Roman Empire
Today part of		Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria and Romania

The Scordisci (Greek: Σκορδίσκοι, Serbian: Скордисци) were a Gallic Iron Age tribe centered in the territory of present-day Serbia, at the confluence of the Savus (Sava), Dravus (Drava) and Danube rivers. They were historically notable from the beginning of the third century BC until the turn of the common era. The Scordisci 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. After the Roman conquest in the 1st century AD, their territories were included into the Roman provinces of Pannonia, Moesia and Dacia.

The Scordisci was a Celtic tribe formed after the Gallic invasion of the Balkans, or rather a "Celtic political creation" having mixed with the local Thracians and Illyrians. Their tribal name may be connected to the Scordus, the Šar mountain. The personal names are noted to have been subsequently Illyricized, having South Pannonian–North Dalmatian influence. According to onomastic evidence, Scordiscan settlements to the east of the Morava river were Thracianized. In parts of Moesia (northeast Central Serbia) the Scordisci and Thracians lived beside each other, which is evident in the archeological findings of pits and treasures, spanning from the 3rd century BC to the 1st century BC.

The Scordisci were found during different timelines in Illyria, Thrace and Dacia, sometimes splitting into more than one group like the Scordisci Major and the Scordisci Minor.