Bardylis II (
Ancient Greek
Ancient Greek includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Dark Ages (), the Archaic peri ...
: Βάρδυλις; ruled ''c.'' 295290 ) was an
Illyrian king, and presumably the son of
Cleitus, and grandson of
Bardylis
Bardylis (also Bardyllis ; grc, Βάρδυλις; 448 – c. 358 BC) was an Illyrian king, and the founder of the first attested Illyrian dynasty. During his reign, Bardylis aimed to made Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He ...
. He was the father of
Bircenna
Bircenna (Ancient Greek: Βιρκέννα; ruled ''c.'' 292 – 272 BC) was an Illyrian princess and later an Epirote queen.
Bircenna was the daughter of Bardylis II, and granddaughter of Cleitus. Bircenna was the fourth out of the five w ...
, wife of
Pyrrhus of Epirus
Pyrrhus (; grc-gre, Πύρρος ; 319/318–272 BC) was a Greek king and statesman of the Hellenistic period.Plutarch. ''Parallel Lives'',Pyrrhus... He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house, and later he becam ...
. 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
Dassareti
The Dassaretii (Ancient Greek: ''Δασσαρῆται, Δασσαρήτιοι'', Latin: ''Dassaretae'', ''Dassaretii'') were an Illyrian people that lived in the inlands of southern Illyria, between present-day south-eastern Albania and south-w ...
a, in an area located nearer the
Macedon
Macedonia (; grc-gre, Μακεδονία), also called Macedon (), was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, and later the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The kingdom was founded and initially ruled by ...
ian border. At that time Bardylis II was evidently the most powerful king in
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria (; grc, Ἰλλυρία, ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; la, Illyria, ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyr ...
who could unite the largest number of
Illyrian tribes under his rule.
Biography
Bardylis II, also called Bardylis the Younger, was presumably the son of
Cleitus and grandson of
Bardylis
Bardylis (also Bardyllis ; grc, Βάρδυλις; 448 – c. 358 BC) was an Illyrian king, and the founder of the first attested Illyrian dynasty. During his reign, Bardylis aimed to made Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He ...
, both enemies of the
Macedonian kingdom
Macedonia (; grc-gre, Μακεδονία), also called Macedon (), was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, and later the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The kingdom was founded and initially ruled by ...
.
A feat of these dimensions could be achieved only through war against Macedonia and, apparently, also against the heirs of
Glaucias. Bardylis II might have absorbed or inherited Glaucias'
Taulantii
Taulantii or Taulantians ('swallow-men'; Ancient Greek: , or , ; la, Taulantii) were an Illyrian people that lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria (modern Albania). They dominated at various times much of the plain between the rivers ...
State.
Pyrrhus waged a war against the Illyrians and conquered the Illyrian capital, although the location of the Illyrian capital at that time is not known. Thus, Bardylis II and Pyrrhus might have shared Glaucias' Taulantii State. The king became a client king to Pyrrhus since Pyrrhus' power and hatred of Macedon made him an attractive ally to Bardylis II. Bardylis II became Pyrrhus' father-in-law when his daughter
Bircenna
Bircenna (Ancient Greek: Βιρκέννα; ruled ''c.'' 292 – 272 BC) was an Illyrian princess and later an Epirote queen.
Bircenna was the daughter of Bardylis II, and granddaughter of Cleitus. Bircenna was the fourth out of the five w ...
became one of the wives of Pyrrhus, proving his power in southern
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria (; grc, Ἰλλυρία, ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; la, Illyria, ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyr ...
.
[(Plut. Pyrrh. 9.)]
See also
*
List of rulers of Illyria
The Illyrians, ; la, Illyrii}) were a conglomeration of Indo-European peoples and tribes in the Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe. They spoke the Illyrian language and practiced a multitude of common religious and cultural practices. Many o ...
References
Bibliography
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External links
The Ancient LibraryBardylis
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bardylis II
Illyrian royalty
3rd-century BC rulers
Dardanians
Year of birth unknown
Year of death unknown