Scordisci facts for kids
The Scordisci were a group of people from the Iron Age. They formed after Celtic people settled in Southeast Europe. Their main home was in what is now Serbia, where the Sava, Drava, Great Morava, and Danube rivers meet. They were important from the early 3rd century BC until around the start of the common era, forming their own tribal state.
When they were strongest, their main lands covered parts of modern-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Their influence spread even further. After the Romans took over in the 1st century AD, their lands became part of the Roman provinces of Pannonia, Moesia, and Dacia.
Contents
What's in a Name?
The name Scordisci might come from a word meaning 'lizard'. Some think it means 'lizard people', like a special group name. Their name has also been linked to the Šar Mountains, which are called Scardus.
Where Did They Come From?
The Scordisci were a Celtic group that formed after the Celts moved into the Balkans. They were a "Celtic political creation," meaning they were a mix of Celtic people and local groups like the Thracians and Illyrians. Their tribal name might be connected to the Scordus, which is the Šar Mountain.
Over time, their personal names started to sound more like Illyrian names. In some areas, like northeast Central Serbia, the Scordisci and Thracians lived side-by-side. We know this from old findings like pits and treasures from 3rd to 1st century BC. The Scordisci were found in different places like Illyria, Thrace, and Dacia at different times. Sometimes, they even split into smaller groups, like the Scordisci Major and Scordisci Minor.
Their Lands
The Scordisci were mainly based in what is now Serbia. This area was where the Sava, Drava, and Danube rivers met. They grew into a tribal state. When they were at their most powerful, their main territory included parts of modern-day Serbia, Croatia, Bulgaria, and Romania. Their influence reached even further.
Their Culture
The Romans wrote that the Scordisci had strong beliefs and customs. These included rituals related to their gods of war, whom the Romans compared to their own gods Bellona and Mars.
A Look at Their History
Early Times (4th and 3rd Century BC)
Celtic people started moving into the Carpathian Mountains in the early 4th century BC. Some old stories say that 300,000 Celts moved into Italy and Illyria. By the early 3rd century BC, the Celts had settled in Pannonia.
After a retreat from Delphi (280–278 BC), the Celts settled near the mouth of the Sava River and called themselves Scordisci. They took control north of the Dardani. We don't hear much about the Scordisci until Philip V of Macedon became king (221–179 BC). At that time, they were allies with Macedon against the Dardani and Rome.
In the second half of the 3rd century BC, the Scordisci took control of the important Sava valley. This was the only route to Italy. They slowly became the most powerful group in the northern Balkans. They controlled many groups in the region, collecting payments from them. They were the strongest group in the central Balkans. They also built strongholds in Singidunum (which is now Belgrade) and Taurunum (modern Zemun). They also took control of several groups in Moesia, like the Dardani, some western Thracian tribes, and the Paeonians.
Battles with Rome (2nd Century BC)
The Scordisci likely took over the Dardani in the mid-2nd century BC. From 141 BC, the Scordisci were often fighting against Roman-controlled Macedonia. They were defeated in 135 BC in Thrace. In 118 BC, a Roman leader named Sextus Pompeius was killed fighting them.
In 114 BC, they surprised and defeated the army of Gaius Porcius Cato in the mountains of western Serbia. But two years later, they were defeated by Marcus Livius Drusus (112 BC). A few years after that, they were defeated again by Minucius Rufus (107 BC). However, they still wanted control over Pannonia. They were involved in the second siege of Sisak in 119 BC.
Decline and Roman Rule (1st Century BC)
The Scordisci still caused trouble for the Roman governors of Macedonia. They would invade Roman lands with the Maedi and Dardani. They even went as far as Delphi and took treasures from the temple. But Lucius Cornelius Scipio Asiaticus finally defeated them in 88 BC and pushed them back across the Danube River.
After this, the Scordisci's power quickly faded. This happened more because of changes among the other tribes than just the Roman wars. Their client groups, especially the Pannonians, became stronger and more independent. Between 56 and 50 BC, the Scordisci were defeated by Burebista's Dacians. They then became subject to him.
The Romans finally crushed them in 15 BC under Tiberius. The Scordisci became Roman subjects and sometimes served as soldiers for the Romans. Other sources say the Romans made an alliance with the Scordisci in the Sirmium and Danube valleys after a campaign in 15 BC. This alliance was important for winning against the Pannonians (15 BC) and later the Breuci (12 BC).
Dacian Conquest
Around 50 BC, the Dacians took control of the Scordisci. This likely involved a mix of battles and agreements. While we don't have many details, it's thought that Burebista, the Dacian king, gained power over the Scordisci. He did this either by winning wars or through deals, expanding Dacian control over their land.
Becoming Roman (1st Century AD)
Strabo's book Geographica (written between 20 BC and 23 AD) mentions that one group of Scordisci, the Major Scordisci, lived between the mouths of the Sava and Morava rivers. The other group, the Minor Scordisci, lived east of the Morava, next to the Moesi and Triballi.
The Scordisci started to receive Roman citizenship during Trajan's rule (98–117 AD). As they became more Roman, they stopped being an independent group.
Archaeological Sites
- Singidunum (Belgrade Fortress and Karaburma)
- Taurunum (Zemun)
- Capedunum (Užice)
Their Legacy
The Scordisci are seen as the founders of the city of Belgrade.
Images for kids
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The map of the tribal state Scordisci and its neighbours
See also
- List of ancient tribes in Illyria
- List of ancient cities in Illyria
- List of ancient tribes in Thrace and Dacia
- Prehistoric sites in Serbia
- Vatin culture
