STRUGGLE FOR HEGEMONY IN THE MIDDLE DANUBE IN THE 3RD AND 2ND CENTURIES BC

The article deals with the issue of struggle between Illyrians, Celts and Thracians in the Middle Danube in the 3rd – 2nd centuries BC. According to Strabo and Appian, the hegemonies of the Triballi from Thrace, the Autariatae from Illyria and the Celtic tribe of Scordisci succeeded each other. However, the ancient authors do not give any chronological references. In order to understand the confusing and contradictory information of Strabo and Appian, it is necessary to use data from other authors, as well as clarify complex issues of historical geography. Based on the analysis of the available data of the ancient literary texts, the authors come to the conclusion that the Autariatae could conquer the Triballi for a short time only after the Galatian invasion of the Balkans in 280 – 279 BC. The appearance of the Scordisci in the Middle Danube was connected with this invasion. However, they did not become the dominant force in the region immediately, but as a result of their struggle with the Autariatae and Triballi. Based mainly on the confusing and contradictory data of the ancient literary texts, the authors specify the dates of the invasions and migrations of the participants of these events, and raise an issue of the Middle Danube tribes’ participation in the Carpathian-Danube region and Eastern Europe. peoples ethnogenesis.