Illyrian kingdom

Last updated
Illyrian kingdom
c. 500 BC–155 BC
Illyria and Dardania Kingdoms.png
Kingdom of Illyria during Agron's reign
(250 BC – 230 BC)
CapitalKnown:
Common languages Illyrian language
Religion
Illyrian religion
Government Monarchy
King  
• c. 400 BC–358 BC
Bardylis (first undisputed)
• 181 BC–168 BC
Gentius (last known)
Historical era Classical antiquity
• Established
c. 500 BC
• Disestablished
155 BC
Area
385 BC300,000 km2 (120,000 sq mi)
290 BC80,000 km2 (31,000 sq mi)
231 BC100,000 km2 (39,000 sq mi)
168 BC30,000 km2 (12,000 sq mi)
King Pyrrhus when a child, brought before King Glaucia and his wife Queen Beroia - Nicolas-Rene Jollain, 1779. Nicolas Rene le Jeune Jollain, Pyrrhus enfant presente a Glaucias.jpg
King Pyrrhus when a child, brought before King Glaucia and his wife Queen Beroia – Nicolas-René Jollain, 1779.
Statue of the Illyrian Queen Teuta with her stepson Pinnes in Tirana, capital of Albania Teuta.jpg
Statue of the Illyrian Queen Teuta with her stepson Pinnes in Tirana, capital of Albania
Coins of King Ballaios Ballaios Epirus.jpg
Coins of King Ballaios

The Illyrian kingdom was an Illyrian political entity that existed on the western part of the Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. Regardless of the number of the alternately ruling dynasties, of their tribal affiliation, and of the actual extension of their kingdom, it represented an alliance of Illyrian tribes that united under the rulership of a single leader, expressly referred to as "King of the Illyrians" in ancient historical records (whether in Ancient Greek or in Latin). [1] The monarchic superstructure of the Illyrian state coexisted with the Illyrian tribal communities and the republican system of the Illyrian koina. [2]

Contents

The Enchele's polity was the earliest to emerge among Illyrians. The earliest known Illyrian king – Bardylis – emerged in southern Illyria around 400 BC, most likely centered in Dassaretis, a region along Lake Ohrid and east to the Prespa Lakes, located on the border between Macedon and Epirus. He aimed to make Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He united many southern Illyrian tribes under his realm and defeated the Macedonians and Molossians several times, expanding his dominion over Upper Macedonia and Lynkestis and subjugating Macedon for several decades until he was decisively defeated by Philip II of Macedon. Before the Rise of Macedon Illyrians were the dominant power in the area. The kingdom of the Taulantii on the south-eastern coast of the Adriatic evidently reached its apex under Glaukias' rule and dominated southern Illyrian affairs in the late 4th century BC, exerting great influence on the Epirote state through the close ties with the Molossian king Pyrrhus.

The Ardiaei, Autariatae, and Dardani are described as the strongest Illyrian peoples by Strabo. From the 6th–5th centuries BC they followed their own social-political development in the regions they inhabited, and only the political entity of the Ardiaei, which expanded in the south-eastern Adriatic, came to be identified with the Illyrian kingdom in the 3rd century BC. Under the Ardiaean king Agron and his wife Teuta, the Illyrian kingdom reached its apex. It became a formidable power both on land and sea by assembling a great army and fleet, and directly ruling over a large area made up of different Illyrian tribes and cities that stretched from the Neretva River in the north to the borders of Epirus in the south, while its influence extended throughout Epirus and down into Acarnania. The Ardiaean realm became one of Rome's major enemies, and its primary threat in the Adriatic Sea. The dominant power of the Illyrian kingdom in the region ceased after its defeat in the Illyro-Roman Wars (229–168 BC). [3] The last known "King of the Illyrians" was Gentius, of the Labeatae tribe.

History

In southern Illyria organized realms were formed earlier than in other areas of this region. One of the oldest known Illyrian dynasty is that of the Enchelei, which seems to have reached its height from the 8th–7th centuries BC, but the dynasty fell from dominant power around the 6th century BC. [4] It seems that the weakening of the dynasty of Enchelae resulted in their assimilation and inclusion into a newly established Illyrian realm at the latest in the 5th century BC, marking the arising of the Dassaretii, who appear to have replaced the Enchelei in the Lakeland area of Lychnidus. [5]

The weakening of the Enchelean realm was also caused by the strengthening of another Illyrian dynasty established in its vicinity—that of the Taulantii—which existed for some time along with that of the Enchelei. [6] The Taulantii—another people among the more anciently known groups of Illyrian tribes—lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria (modern Albania), dominating at various times much of the plain between the Drin and the Aous, comprising the area around Epidamnus/Dyrrhachium. [7] When describing the Illyrian invasion of Macedonia ruled by Argaeus I, somewhere between 678–640 BC, the historian Polyaenus (fl. 2nd-century AD) recorded the supposed oldest known king in Illyria, Galaurus or Galabrus, a ruler of the Taulantii who reigned in the latter part of the 7th century BC. [8] [9] [10] [11] Some scholars consider the authenticity of Polyaenus' passage as disputable. [12] Whether or not this account is historically reliable, and despite Polyaenus' interest in the anecdote, it implies the widespread thought throughout antiquity about a significant animosity between the Macedonians and the Illyrians as early as the 7th century BC, if the consensus in modern scholarship in dating the reigning period of Argaeus I is correct. [13] [14] In the 7th century BC the Taulantii invoked the aid of Corcyra and Corinth in a war against the Liburni. After the defeat and expulsion from the region of the Liburni, the Corcyreans founded in 627 BC on the Illyrian mainland a colony called Epidamnus, thought to have been the name of an Illyrian (barbarian) king of the region. [15] A flourishing commercial centre emerged and the city grew rapidly. The Taulantii continued to play an important role in Illyrian history between the 5th and 4th–3rd centuries BC, and in particular, in the history of Epidamnus, both as its neighbours and as part of its population. Notably, they influenced the affairs in the internal conflicts between aristocrats and democrats. [16] The Taulantian dynasty seems to have reached its climax during Glaukias' rule, in the years between 335 BC and 302 BC. [17] [18] [19]

According to some modern scholars the dynasty of Bardylis—the first attested Illyrian dynasty—was Dassaretan. [20] [21] [22] There is also another historical reconstruction that considers Bardylis a Dardani a ruler, who during the expansion of his dominion included the region of Dassaretis in his realm, but this interpretation has been challenged by historians who consider Dardania too far north for the events involving the Illyrian king Bardylis and his dynasty. [23] [24] [25]

After Philip II of Macedon defeated Bardylis (358 BC), the Grabaei under Grabos II became the strongest state in Illyria. [26] Philip II killed 7,000 Illyrians in a great victory and annexed the territory up to Lake Ohrid. Next, Philip II reduced the Grabaei, and then went for the Ardiaei, defeated the Triballi (339 BC), and fought with Pleurias (337 BC). After that Alexander the Great had defeated Illyrian chieftain Clitus forces in 335 B.C. and Illyrian soldiers and tribal leaders participated in his conquest of Persia. After the death of Alexander, Illyrian tribes started to rise to become independent from Macedonian rule. Following that in 312 BC king Glaucius expelled Greeks from Durrës. [27]

During the second part of the 3rd century BC, a number of Illyrian tribes seem to have united to form a proto-state stretching from the central part of present-day Albania up to Neretva river in Herzegovina. The political entity was financed on piracy and ruled from 250 BC by the king Agron. He was succeeded by his wife Teuta, who assumed the regency for her stepson Pinnes following Agron's death in 231 BC. [28] Queen Teuta was famous for having waged wars against the Romans.

At the Neretva Delta, there was a strong Hellenistic influence on the Illyrian tribe of Daors. Their capital was Daorson located in Ošanići near Stolac in Herzegovina, which became the main center of classical Illyrian culture. Daorson, during the 4th century BC, was surrounded by megalithic, 5 meter high stonewalls, composed out of large trapeze stones blocks. Daors also made unique bronze coins and sculptures. The Illyrians even conquered Greek colonies on the Dalmatian islands.

The Illyrian kingdom was composed of small areas within the region of Illyria. Only the Romans ruled the entire region. The internal organization of the south Illyrian kingdom points to imitation of their neighbouring Greek kingdoms and influence from the Greek and Hellenistic world in the growth of their urban centres. [29] Polybius gives as an image of society within an Illyrian kingdom as peasant infantry fought under aristocrats which he calls in Greek Polydynastae (Greek: Πολυδυνάστες) where each one controlled a town within the kingdom. [30] The monarchy was established on hereditary lines and Illyrian rulers used marriages as a means of alliance with other powers. [31] Pliny (23–79 AD) writes that the people that formed the nucleus of the Illyrian kingdom were 'Illyrians proper' or Illyrii proprie dicti. [32] They were the Taulantii, the Pleraei, the Endirudini, Sasaei, Grabaei and the Labeatae. These later joined to form the Docleatae. [33]

The last known King of the Illyrians was Gentius, of the Labeatae tribe, and his capital city was Shkodër.

Rulers

7th century BC rulers

5th-4th centuries BC rulers

Early 3rd century BC rulers

Ardiaean-Labeatan rulers

See also

Related Research Articles

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In classical and late antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Illyrians</span> Ancient Western Balkanic tribes

The Illyrians were a group of Indo-European-speaking people who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, along with the Thracians and Greeks.

Bardylis or Bardyllis was an Illyrian king, and the founder of the first attested Illyrian dynasty. During his reign, Bardylis aimed to make Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He united many southern Illyrian tribes under his realm and defeated the Macedonians and Molossians several times, expanding his dominion over upper Macedonia, including Lynkestis, and ruling over Macedon through a puppet king. Before the Rise of Macedon, Illyrians were the dominant power in the region. Bardylis also led raids against Epirus, but his soldiers were eventually expelled from the region.

The Illyro-Roman Wars were a series of wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Illyrian kingdom under the Ardiaei and Labeatae. In the First Illyrian War, which lasted from 229 BC to 228 BC, Rome's concern was that the trade across the Adriatic Sea increased after the First Punic War at a time when Ardiaei power increased under queen Teuta. Attacks on trading vessels of Rome's Italic allies by Illyrian pirates and the death of a Roman envoy named Coruncanius on Teuta's orders, prompted the Roman senate to dispatch a Roman army under the command of the consuls Lucius Postumius Albinus and Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus. Rome expelled Illyrian garrisons from a number of Greek cities including Epidamnus, Apollonia, Corcyra, Pharos and established a protectorate over these Greek towns. The Romans also set up Demetrius of Pharos as a power in Illyria to counterbalance the power of Teuta.

Agron was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom in the 3rd century BC, ruling c. 250–231 BC. The son of Pleuratus II, Agron succeeded in reconquering southern Illyria, which had been under the control of Epirus since the time of Pyrrhus, and in extending Illyrian rule over many cities in the Adriatic region, including Corcyra, Epidamnos, and Pharos.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pinnes (Ardiaean)</span>

Pinnes was the son of Agron, king of the Ardiaei in Illyria, and Agron's first wife Triteuta. He officially succeeded his father as king in 230 BC, but the Ardiaean kingdom was ruled by Agron's second wife, Queen Teuta.

Taulantii or Taulantians were an Illyrian people that lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria. They dominated at various times much of the plain between the rivers Drin (Drilon) and Vjosa (Aoös). Their central area was the hinterland of Epidamnos-Dyrrhachion, corresponding to present-day Tirana and the region between the valleys of Mat and Shkumbin (Genusus). The Taulantii are among the oldest attested Illyrian peoples, who established a powerful kingdom in southern Illyria. They are among the peoples who most marked Illyrian history, and thus found their place in the numerous works of historians in classical antiquity.

Scerdilaidas or Skerdilaid was an Illyrian ruler of the Illyrian kingdom under the Labeatan dynasty. Before taking the throne, Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a major role in the Illyrian Wars against the Romans.

The Ardiaei were an Illyrian people who resided in the territory of present-day Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Croatia between the Adriatic coast on the south, Konjic on the north, along the Neretva river and its right bank on the west, and extending to Lake Shkodra to the southeast. From the 3rd century BC to 168 BC the capital cities of the Ardiaean State were Rhizon and Scodra.

The Parthini, Partini or Partheni were an Illyrian tribe that lived in the inlands of southern Illyria. They likely were located in the Shkumbin valley controlling the important route between the Adriatic Sea and Macedonia, which corresponded to the Via Egnatia of Roman times. Consequently, their neighbours to the west were the Taulantii and to the east the Dassaretii in the region of Lychnidus.

Cleitus was an Illyrian ruler, the son of the King Bardylis and the father of Bardylis II.

The Dassaretii were an Illyrian people that lived in the inlands of southern Illyria, between present-day south-eastern Albania and south-western North Macedonia. Their territory included the entire region between the rivers Asamus and Eordaicus, the plateau of Korça locked by the fortress of Pelion and, towards the north it extended to Lake Lychnidus up to the Black Drin. They were directly in contact with the regions of Orestis and Lynkestis of Upper Macedonia. Their chief city was Lychnidos, located on the edge of the lake of the same name. One of the most important settlements in their territory was established at Selcë e Poshtme near the western shore of Lake Lychnidus, where the Illyrian Royal Tombs were built.

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The Labeatae, Labeatai or Labeates were an Illyrian people that lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria, between modern Albania and Montenegro, around Lake Scodra.

Atintanes or Atintanians was an ancient tribe that dwelled in the borderlands between Epirus and Illyria, in an inland region which was called Atintania. They have been described as either an Epirote tribe that belonged to the northwestern Greek group, or as an Illyrian tribe. They were occasionally subordinate to the Molossians.

The Enchelei were an ancient people that lived around the River Drin and the region of Lake Shkodra and Lake Ohrid, in modern-day Albania, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. They are one of the oldest known peoples of the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea. In ancient sources they sometimes appear as an ethnic group distinct from the Illyrians, but they are mostly mentioned as one of the Illyrian tribes. They held a central position in the earlier phase of Illyrian history. In ancient Greek literature they are linked with the end of the mythical narrative of Cadmus and Harmonia, a tradition deeply rooted among the Illyrian peoples.

Bardylis II was an Illyrian king, and presumably the son of Cleitus, and grandson of Bardylis. He was the father of Bircenna, wife of Pyrrhus of Epirus. Bardylis II is the only attested Illyrian king after Glaucias' death. He may have succeeded Glaucias on the throne as the grandson of Bardylis I, or alternatively he may have reigned independently after his father Cleitus somewhere in Dassaretia, in an area located nearer the Macedonian border. At that time Bardylis II was evidently the most powerful king in Illyria who could unite the largest number of Illyrian tribes under his rule.

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Illyrology or Illyrian studies is interdisciplinary academic field which focuses on scientific study of Illyria and Illyrians as a regional and thematic branch of the larger disciplines of ancient history and archaeology. A practitioner of the discipline is called Illyrologist. His duty is to investigate the range of ancient Illyrian history, culture, art, language, heraldry, numizmatic, mythology, economics, ethics, etc. from c. 1000 BC up to the end of Roman rule around the 5th century.

This is a list of Illyrian rulers from the Ardiean-Labeatan dynasty:

References

  1. ↑ Shehi 2023 , p. 183; Ceka 2005 , p. 168; Šašel Kos 2002 , p. 112; Cabanes 1988; Bajric 2014.
  2. ↑ Ceka 2023 , p. 1; Shehi 2023 , p. 183.
  3. ↑ Shehi 2023, pp. 183–184.
  4. ↑ Stipčević 1989 , p. 34
  5. ↑ Šašel Kos 2004 , p. 500
  6. ↑ Stipčević 1989 , p. 35
  7. ↑ Wilkes 1992 , pp. 97–98
  8. ↑ Jaupaj 2019 , p. 81
  9. ↑ Hammond & Griffith 1972 , p. 21
  10. ↑ Cabanes 2002a , p. 51
  11. ↑ Cabanes 2002b , p. 163.
  12. 1 2 Cabanes 2002a, p. 51.
  13. ↑ Greenwalt 2011 , p. 281
  14. ↑ Cabanes 2002a , p. 51
  15. ↑ Wilkes 1992 , pp. 110–111
  16. ↑ Wilkes 1992 , p. 112
  17. ↑ Dzino 2014 , p. 49
  18. ↑ Wilkes 1992 , pp. 112, 122–126
  19. ↑ Stipčević 1989 , pp. 35–36
  20. ↑ Mortensen 1991 , pp. 49–59
  21. ↑ Cabanes 2002a , pp. 50–51, 56, 75
  22. ↑ Lane Fox 2011 , p. 342
  23. ↑ Cabanes 2002a , pp. 50–51, 56, 75
  24. ↑ Mortensen 1991 , pp. 49–59
  25. ↑ Lane Fox 2011 , p. 342
  26. ↑ Hammond 1994, p. 438.
  27. ↑ Hammond 1993 , pp. 106–107
      History of Albania, the ancient Illyrians. (n.d.). Retrieved May 30, 2022, from http://motherearthtravel.com/albania/history-4.htm
    • ↑ Elsie 2015 , p. 3
    • ↑ Wilkes 1995 , p. 237.
    • ↑ Wilkes 1995 , p. 127.
    • ↑ Wilkes 1995 , p. 167.
    • ↑ Wilkes 1995 , p. 216.
    • ↑ Juka 1984 , p. 15.
    • ↑ Μιμαλλόνες "imitators of men" Etym. Mag. (587.53) see Hesychius "mimelazein. mimeisthai" "mimelon. homoion"
    • ↑ Cabanes 2002a , p. 51
    • ↑ Šašel Kos 2002 , p. 113
    • ↑ Cambi, Nenad; Čače, Slobodan; Kirigin, Branko, eds. (2002). Greek influence along the East Adriatic Coast. Knjiga Mediterana. Vol. 26. ISBN   9531631549. Undoubtedly the word Illyrian had a distinct political (hence to some extent also ethnic) meaning, when applied to the Illyrian kingdom of Sirrhas or Bardylis I, at thend of the 5th or the beginning of the 4th century BC to the fall of Genthius in 168 BC, regardless of the unsolvable problem of how many dynasties alternately occupied the throne and what was the origin and the actual expanse of the kingdom of each of them
    • ↑ Katičić, Radoslav (2012). Ancient Languages of the Balkans. Walter de Gruyter. p. 155. ISBN   978-3111568874.
    • ↑ Šašel Kos 2002 , p. 113
    • ↑ The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, p. 121, 156, 167, 170–174, 190
    • ↑ Hammond, "The Kingdoms in Illyria circa 400–167 BC".
    • 1 2 Howe, Müller & Stoneman 2017 , p. 98
    • ↑ Šašel Kos 2002 , p. 113
    • ↑ Wilkes 1995, page 120
    • ↑ Neritan Ceka: Illlyrian to the Albanians, 2005, Migjeni
    • 1 2 The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, p. 129, "No Illyrian production of coins is known before King Monunius struck his coins at Dyrrhachium (see figure 11), followed by Mytilus around ten years later..."
    • ↑ Fanula Papazoglu (1965), "Les origines et la destinée de l'état Illyrien," p. 143
    • ↑ Studies concerning Epirus and Macedonia before Alexander by Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière Hammond, page 105.
    • ↑ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, p. 120, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, p. 158, "Illyrian success continued when command passed to Agron's widow Teuta, who granted individual ships a licence to universal plunder. In 231 AC the fleet and army attacked Ells and Messenia..."
    • ↑ A History of Rome to A.D. 565 – p. 111 by Arthur Edward Romilly Boak, William Gurnee Sinnigen,"The island of Pharos and some adjacent territory in Illyria were given to a Greek adventurer, Demetrius of Pharos"
    • ↑ Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: mélanges offerts au professeur Pierre Cabanes by Danièle Berranger, Pierre Cabanes, Danièle Berranger-Auserve, page 137
    • ↑ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, p. 162, "...revival of Illyrian power under Demetrius of Pharos, who had succeeded Teuta and married Triteuta, mother of the infant King Pinnes."
    • ↑ The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, pages 121, 156, 167, 170–174, 190
    • ↑ Wilkes, J. J. The Illyrians, 1992, ISBN   0-631-19807-5, p. 221, "Ardiaei from which intoxicated men were conveyed home by their women who had also participated to the overindulgence of their kings Agron and Gentius..."

Bibliography

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