Serdi (Celtic tribe)
Nation | Defunct
100 BCE to 300 CE
The Serdi are a Celtic tribe inhabiting Thrace.
They are located around Serdika, which reflects their ethnonym.
They would have established themselves in this area during the Celtic migrations at the end of the 4th century BCE, though there is no evidence for their existence before the 1st century BECCESerdi are among traditional tribal names reported into the Roman era.
They are gradually Thracianized over the centuries but retain their Celtic character in material culture up to a late date.
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Marcus Licinius Crassus, grandson of the famous triumvir and proconsul of Macedonia, had fought first with Sextus Pompeius and Mark Antony before defecting to Octavian.
Octavian had then appointed him as his colleague as consul for 30 BCE, even though Crassus had not been praetor, the office that was traditionally a prerequisite for the consulship.
Dispatched to Macedonia in 29 BCE, he moves against the Bastarnae, a tribe of Scythian ethnicity who have crossed the Danube and threatened Roman allies in neighboring Thrace.
He drives them back toward the Danube and finally defeats them in pitched battle, killing their King Deldo in single combat.
By Roman tradition, he is thus entitled to the Spolia opima, but Octavian blocks the privilege, apparently wishing to downplay the successes of individual generals in favor of his own prestige.
Crassus likewise does not receive the agnomen of Scythicus to commemorate his victory.
However, Octavian eventually does grant him a triumph upon his return to Rome.
The Serdi (Sardi), a Celtic tribe, had in the eighth century BCE established a settlement near the geographical center of the Balkans region, in the Sofia Basin, a troughlike valley in the western part of the country.
The Romans conquer this community soon after 29 BCE and name it Serdica (Greek: Sardica).