The
Illyrians
The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, a ...
, ; la, Illyrii}) were a conglomeration of
Indo-European
The Indo-European languages are a language family native to the overwhelming majority of Europe, the Iranian plateau, and the northern Indian subcontinent. Some European languages of this family, English, French, Portuguese, Russian, Dutc ...
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 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
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 ...
and
Dardani
The Dardani (; grc, Δαρδάνιοι, Δάρδανοι; la, Dardani) or Dardanians were a Paleo-Balkan people, who lived in a region that was named Dardania after their settlement there. They were among the oldest Balkan peoples, and their ...
. The most powerful Illyrian states of the area, the
Ardiaean kingdom, emerged in the 3rd century BC during the rule of
Agron and
Teuta
Teuta ( Illyrian: *''Teutana'', 'mistress of the people, queen'; grc, Τεύτα; lat, Teuta) was the queen regent of the Ardiaei tribe in Illyria, who reigned approximately from 231 BC to 228/227 BC.
Following the death of her spouse Agr ...
. The Illyrians came into conflict with
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic ( la, Res publica Romana ) was a form of government of Rome and the era of the classical Roman civilization when it was run through public representation of the Roman people. Beginning with the overthrow of the Roman Ki ...
and were defeated in the
Illyrian Wars
The Illyro-Roman Wars were a series of wars fought between the Roman Republic and the Ardiaei kingdom. 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 ...
, which were followed by many revolts. The largest and last of them was the
Great Illyrian Revolt
The (Latin for 'War of the Batos') was a military conflict fought in the Roman province of Illyricum in the 1st century AD, in which an alliance of native peoples of the two regions of Illyricum, Dalmatia and Pannonia, revolted against the Roma ...
(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
An emperor (from la, imperator, via fro, empereor) is a monarch, and usually the sovereign ruler of an empire or another type of imperial realm. Empress, the female equivalent, may indicate an emperor's wife ( empress consort), mother (empr ...
of Illyrian origin.
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Historical rulers
Enchelean - Taulantian rulers
*
Galaurus: king of Taulantii. Unsuccessfully invaded Macedonia between 678 and 640 BC.
*
Grabos I
Grabos (or Grabus; grc-gre, Γράβος) was an Illyrian chieftain who is mentioned once in an Athenian inscription in 423 BC. He or his son (possibly Sirras) were the leaders of the Illyrians who supported the Lyncestians against an expediti ...
(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
Grabus (also Grabos; grc-gre, Γράβος; ruled c. 358 – 356 BC) was an Illyrian king who reigned in southern Illyria in the 4th century BC.
Biography
According to a historical reconstruction, Grabus belonged to the Grabaei, an Illyrian ...
.
*
Sirras
Sirras or Sirrhas ( grc, Σίρρας; d. 390 BC) was a prince, royal member and perhaps prince-regent of Lynkestis (Lyncestis) in Upper Macedonia for his father-in-law King Arrhabaeus ( 423–393 BC). He participated in the Pelopponesian War a ...
(437–390 BC), ruler in
Lyncestis
Lynkestis, Lyncestis, Lyngistis, Lynkos or Lyncus ( grc, Λυγκηστίς or Λύγκος la, Lyncestis or ''Lyncus'') was a region and principality traditionally located in Upper Macedonia. It was the northernmost mountainous region of Upper ...
.
*
Grabos II
Grabus (also Grabos; grc-gre, Γράβος; ruled c. 358 – 356 BC) was an Illyrian king who reigned in southern Illyria in the 4th century BC.
Biography
According to a historical reconstruction, Grabus belonged to the Grabaei, an Illyrian ...
(r. 358–356 BC): entered Athenian alliance to resist Philip's power in 356 BC.
*
Pleuratus I
Pleuratus I (Ancient Greek: Πλευρᾶτος; ruled 356335 ) was an Illyrian king of the Illyrian tribe of the Taulantii. Pleuratus was the father of Glaucias. Pleuratus managed to defeat philip II during Macedon's expansion, wounding the M ...
(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
Pleurias (Ancient Greek Πλευρίας; ruled c. 337 – 335 BC) was an Illyrian king. According to some scholars Pleurias was probably king of the Autariatae. An Illyrian king called Pleurias is mentioned only in Diodorus (16.93.6). The n ...
(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 Autariatae or Autariatai (alternatively, Autariates; grc, Αὐταριᾶται, ''Autariatai''; la, Autariatae) were an Illyrian people that lived between the valleys of the Lim and the Tara, beyond the Accursed Mountains, and the v ...
, the
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 ...
, or the
Dardani
The Dardani (; grc, Δαρδάνιοι, Δάρδανοι; la, Dardani) or Dardanians were a Paleo-Balkan people, who lived in a region that was named Dardania after their settlement there. They were among the oldest Balkan peoples, and their ...
. Some have suggested that he was the same as
Pleuratus I
Pleuratus I (Ancient Greek: Πλευρᾶτος; ruled 356335 ) was an Illyrian king of the Illyrian tribe of the Taulantii. Pleuratus was the father of Glaucias. Pleuratus managed to defeat philip II during Macedon's expansion, wounding the M ...
;
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 in
Pelion
Pelion or Pelium (Modern el, Πήλιο, ''Pílio''; Ancient Greek/ Katharevousa: Πήλιον, ''Pēlion'') is a mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in northern Greece, forming a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the ...
of 335 BC against
Alexander the Great
Alexander III of Macedon ( grc, Ἀλέξανδρος, Alexandros; 20/21 July 356 BC – 10/11 June 323 BC), commonly known as Alexander the Great, was a king of the ancient Greek kingdom of Macedon. He succeeded his father Philip II to ...
.
*
Glaucias: king of Taulantii. He aided Cleitus at the Battle of Pelion in 335 BC, raised
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 be ...
and was involved in other events in southern Illyria in the late 4th century BC.
*
Monunius I
Monounios or Monunius ( grc, Μονούνιος; la, Monunius; ruled 290 – 270 BC) was an Illyrian king who reigned in southern Illyria, in the territory of the Taulantii, around the hinterland of Dyrrhachion and Apollonia. He is the firs ...
, (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, 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
Pleuratus II (Ancient Greek: Πλευρᾶτος; ruled c. 260 – 250 BC) was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom.
Biography
Pleuratus was the founder of the Ardiaean Kingdom and the Ardiaean dynasty which controlled much of the Adri ...
: reigned in a time of peace and prosperity for the Illyrian kingdom., ruled BC 260 ~ BC 250
*
Teuta
Teuta ( Illyrian: *''Teutana'', 'mistress of the people, queen'; grc, Τεύτα; lat, Teuta) was the queen regent of the Ardiaei tribe in Illyria, who reigned approximately from 231 BC to 228/227 BC.
Following the death of her spouse Agr ...
(regent for
Pinnes): forced to come to terms with the
Romans
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
* Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
in 227 BC.
*
Demetrius of Pharos
Demetrius of Pharos (also Pharus) ( grc, Δημήτριος ἐκ Φάρου and Δημήτριος ὁ Φάριος) was a ruler of Pharos involved in the First Illyrian War, after which he ruled a portion of the Illyrian Adriatic coast on behalf ...
: surrenders to the Romans at
Pharos
The Lighthouse of Alexandria, sometimes called the Pharos of Alexandria (; Ancient Greek: ὁ Φάρος τῆς Ἀλεξανδρείας, contemporary Koine ), was a lighthouse built by the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Ancient Egypt, during the re ...
in 218 BC and flees to Macedonia., ruled B.C 222~B.C 219
*
Scerdilaidas
Scerdilaidas or Skerdilaid ( grc, Σκερδιλαΐδας; ruled 218206 BC) 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 majo ...
: 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
Gentius ( grc, Γένθιος, "Génthios"; 181168 BC) was an Illyrian king who belonged to the Labeatan dynasty. He ruled in 181–168 BC, being the last attested Illyrian king. He was the son of Pleuratus III, a king who kept positive relati ...
: 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: invaded northern borders of the Illyrian kingdom in 229 BC while Teuta was dealing with campaigns in Epirus.
*
Monunius of Dardania: repelled the
Bastarnae
The Bastarnae ( Latin variants: ''Bastarni'', or ''Basternae''; grc, Βαστάρναι or Βαστέρναι) and Peucini ( grc, Πευκῖνοι) were two ancient peoples who between 200 BC and 300 AD inhabited areas north of the Roman front ...
Invasion of Dardania in 175 BC.
Other rulers
;Histria
*
Epulon, 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 (river), Raša) and ''Titius'' (Krka (Croatia), ...
in order to ambush Octavian in 34 BC.
Aleksandar Stipčević
Aleksandar Stipčević (October 10, 1930 – September 1, 2015) was a Croatian archeologist, bibliographer, librarian and historian of Albanian origin who specialized in the study of the Illyrians.
He was born in the village of Arbanasi near ...
: ''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: attacked by Taras in 460 BC at Hyria, in which he died.
;Pannonia
* Pinnes of Pannonia: 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 Caeria (died 344/343 BC), was an Illyrian queen who reigned in the second part of the fourth century BC.
Cynane, an Illyrian princess and daughter of Philip II of Macedon, engaged in battle with Caeria in 344/343 BC. An account cites that Cynane a ...
: Illyrian queen who ruled to 344/343BC.
See also
*List of ancient Illyrian peoples and tribes
This is a list of ancient tribes in the ancient territory of Illyria ( grc-gre, Ἰλλυρία; la, Illyria). The name ''Illyrians'' seems to be the name of a single Illyrian tribe that was the first to come into contact with the ancient Greeks ...
*List of settlements in Illyria
This is a list of settlements in Illyria founded by Illyrians (southern Illyrians, Dardanians, Pannonians), Liburni, Ancient Greeks and the Roman Empire. A number of cities in Illyria and later Illyricum were built on the sites or close to the s ...
References
Bibliography
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{{DEFAULTSORT:List Of Illyrians
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Illyrians
The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, a ...
Illyrians
The Illyrians ( grc, Ἰλλυριοί, ''Illyrioi''; la, Illyrii) were a group of Indo-European-speaking peoples who inhabited the western Balkan Peninsula in ancient times. They constituted one of the three main Paleo-Balkan populations, a ...