The Dii (also Dioi ) were an independent Thracian tribe, swordsmen, who lived among the foothills of Mount Rhodope in Thrace. "Thracians" also refers to modern inhabitants of Thrace, regardless of ethnicity Swordsman redirects here For the comic book characters see Swordsman (comics. The Rhodopes (Родопи Rodopi, usually used with a definite article Родопите Rodopite, sometimes also called Родопа Rodopa or Родопа Thrace (Тракия Trakiya or "Trakija" or Trakia, Θράκη Thráki, Trakya is a historical and geographic area in southeast Europe They often joined the ranks of organized armies as mercenaries or volunteers. Thucydides declared that they were the most warlike infantry in Sitalkes' army. Thucydides ( C 460 BC &ndash C 395 BC) ( Greek Θουκυδίδης Thoukydídēs) was a Greek Sitalces (reigned 431 - 424 BC was one of the great kings of the Thracian Odrysian state

Though usually described as swordsmen, they defeated a Theban cavalry by using peltast tactics, so they were certainly skilled in other areas of warfare as well. Thebes ( Classic Greek Θῆβαι, Mod Θήβα) is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range which divides A peltast ( Ancient Greek: πελταστής was a type of Light infantry in Ancient Greece who often served as Skirmishers

See also: Bessi. The Bessi ( Vesi) were an independent Thracian tribe who lived in a territory ranging from Moesia to Mount Rhodope in southern Thrace