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The
Illyrians, ; la, Illyrii}) were a conglomeration of
Indo-European peoples and tribes in the
Balkan Peninsula
The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...
, Southeastern Europe. They spoke the
Illyrian language
The Illyrian language () was an Indo-European language or group of languages spoken by the Illyrians in Southeast Europe during antiquity. The language is unattested with the exception of personal names and placenames. Just enough information ...
and practiced a multitude of
common religious and cultural practices. Many of Illyrian groups formed a distinct
tribal mode of social organisation, which survived much later in the form of the
Albanian tribal system.
In late Iron Age and early classical antiquity, the first polities of the area would be created by tribal groupings, including the
Taulantii and
Dardani. The most powerful Illyrian states of the area, the
Ardiaean kingdom, emerged in the 3rd century BC during the rule of
Agron and
Teuta. The Illyrians came into conflict with
Roman Republic and were defeated in the
Illyrian Wars, which were followed by many revolts. The largest and last of them was the
Great Illyrian Revolt (6-9 BC). The beginning of the integration of the region of Illyria in the Roman world followed the revolt and saw many Illyrians rise through the ranks of the Roman society and the Roman army in particular which produced several
emperors of Illyrian origin.
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Historical rulers
Enchelean - Taulantian rulers
*
Galaurus
Galaurus () was an Illyrian king of the Taulantii State who reigned in the middle of the 7th century BC. After the first Illyrian invasion of Macedonia in 691 BC because of the interruption of friendly relations, the Illyrians did considerable d ...
: king of Taulantii. Unsuccessfully invaded Macedonia between 678 and 640 BC.
*
Grabos I (5th century BC): attested on an Athenian inscription, he was very likely a person with great political responsibilities. He probably was the grandfather of
Grabos II.
[
* Sirras (437–390 BC), ruler in Lyncestis.
* Grabos II (r. 358–356 BC): entered Athenian alliance to resist Philip's power in 356 BC.][
* Pleuratus I (r. 356–335 BC): reigned near the Adriatic coast in southern Illyria. In a losing effort in 344 BC, tried to thwart Philip's advances in Illyria.][The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, , p. 121, 156, 167, 170-174, 190]
* Pleurias (r. c. 337/336 BC): Illyrian ruler who campaigned against Philip II about 337 BC. He is considered by some scholars as king of either the Autariatae, the Taulantii, or the Dardani. Some have suggested that he was the same as Pleuratus I;[ Pleurias is mentioned only in Diodorus (16.93.6), elsewhere unattested in ancient sources.][
* Cleitus, son of Bardylis I (r. 335–295 BC): mastermind behind the ]Illyrian Revolt
The (Latin for 'War of the Batos') was a military conflict fought in the Roman Empire, Roman province of Illyricum (Roman province), Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two regions of Illyricum, Roman D ...
in Pelion of 335 BC against Alexander the Great.
* Glaucias: king of Taulantii. He aided Cleitus at the Battle of Pelion in 335 BC, raised Pyrrhus of Epirus and was involved in other events in southern Illyria in the late 4th century BC.
* Monunius I, (r. 290–270 BC): reigned during the Gallic invasions of 279 BC. He minted his own silver staters in Dyrrhachion.[The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1992, , 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..."]
* Mytilos
Mytilos or Mytilus ( grc, Μύτιλος; la, Mytilus; ruled 270231 BC) was an Illyrian king who reigned in southern Illyria, around the hinterland of Dyrrhachion and Apollonia. He was the successor of Monunios, and probably his son. Mytilus ...
, successor of Monunius I and probably his son (r. 270–?): waged war on Epirus in 270 BC. He minted his own bronze coins in Dyrrhachion.[
]
Ardiaean-Labeatan rulers
* Pleuratus II: reigned in a time of peace and prosperity for the Illyrian kingdom., ruled BC 260 ~ BC 250
* Teuta (regent for Pinnes): forced to come to terms with the Romans in 227 BC.
* Demetrius of Pharos: surrenders to the Romans at Pharos in 218 BC and flees to Macedonia., ruled B.C 222~B.C 219
* Scerdilaidas: allied with Rome to defeat Macedonia in 208 BC., ruled B.C 218~B.C 206
* Pinnes: too young to become king; ruled under the regency of Teuta, Demetrius and Scerdilaidas., ruled B.C 230~B.C 217
* Pleuratus III: rewarded by the Romans in 196 BC, with lands annexed by the Macedonians., ruled B.C 205~B.C 181
*
Gentius: defeated by the Romans in 168 BC during the Third Illyrian War; Illyrian kingdom ceased to exist while the king was taken prisoner., ruled B.C 181~B.C 168
Dardanian rulers
* Longarus
Longarus (ruled c. 231 – 206 BC) was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian Kingdom. Longarus was at war with various Macedonian kings and managed to conquer at different times part of Macedonia. Longarus was an ally of the Paeonian State and ...
: invaded northern borders of the Illyrian kingdom in 229 BC while Teuta was dealing with campaigns in Epirus.
* Monunius of Dardania
Monunius ( Ancient Greek Μονούνιος; ruled ''c.'' 176 – 167 BC) was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian State who lived in the late 3rd century BC and early 2nd century BC. Monunius attested first in 176 BC was the son of Longarus, ...
: repelled the Bastarnae Invasion of Dardania in 175 BC.
Other rulers
;Histria
* Epulon
Epulon (''Epulo'', ''Epulone'', ''Aepulo''; ruled 181 – 177 BC) was a king or tribal leader of the Histri in northern Illyria.. Epulon conducted a series of wars against commanders sent by the Roman Republic during the Roman expansion of the f ...
, ruler of Histria: thwarted Roman advances in the Istrian peninsula until his death in 177 BC.
;Dalmatae
* Verzo, ruler of the Dalmatae: took the city of Promona from the Liburni
The Liburnians or Liburni ( grc, Λιβυρνοὶ) were an ancient tribe inhabiting the district called Liburnia, a coastal region of the northeastern Adriatic between the rivers ''Arsia'' ( Raša) and ''Titius'' ( Krka) in what is now Croatia ...
in order to ambush Octavian in 34 BC.[ Aleksandar Stipčević: ''Iliri: povijest, život, kultura'', p. 49.]
* Testimos, ruler of the Dalmatae: defeated by the Romans in 33 BC; Dalmatia incorporated into Roman Republic.[
;Messapia
* ]Opis of Messapia
Opis was a king of the Messapians. Opis reigned during the first half of the 5th century BC and participated in the Iapygian-Tarentine Wars.
Military activities
A decade after the catastrophic defeat of Taras at Kailia in 473 BC, the Tarentines ...
: attacked by Taras in 460 BC at Hyria, in which he died.
;Pannonia
* Pinnes of Pannonia
Pinnes or Pinnetes was a Pannonian chieftain, who led a rebellion alongside Breucian chieftain Bato (part of the wider ''bellum Batonianum'') until Bato betrayed him and handed him over to the Romans, thus securing the rule over the Breuci.
See ...
: led Pannonians in the Great Illyrian Revolt from 6 AD.
;Minor rulers
* Ionios: ruled over Issa and the surrounding region in the first half of the 4th century BC, probably after the fall of Dionysius of Syracuse in 367 BC.
* Caeria: Illyrian queen who ruled to 344/343BC.
See also
* List of ancient Illyrian peoples and tribes
* List of settlements in Illyria
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Illyrians
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Illyrians
Illyrians