Illyria

This article is about the ancient region in the south of Europe. For other uses, see Illyria (disambiguation).

Historical region in Western Balkan, Southeast Europe

Illyria

Historical region

Approximate area settled by Illyrian tribes during classical antiquity

Area| Southeast Europe
Region| Western Balkan

In classical and late antiquity, Illyria (/ɪˈlɪəriə/; Ancient Greek: Ἰλλυρία, Illyría or Ἰλλυρίς, Illyrís;[1][2] Latin: Illyria,[3] Illyricum)[4] was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians.

The Ancient Greeks initially used the term Illyris to define approximately the area of northern and central Albania down to the Aoös valley (modern Vjosa) and the Bay of Vlorë, including in most periods much of the lakeland area (Ohrid and Prespa). It corresponded to the region that neighboured Macedonia and Epirus.[5][6][7] In Roman times the terms Illyria, Illyris, or Illyricum were extended from the territory that was roughly located in the area of the south-eastern Adriatic coast (modern Albania and Montenegro) and its hinterland, to a broader region stretching between the whole eastern Adriatic and the Danube.[8][5][9]

From about mid-1st century BC the term Illyricum was used by the Romans for the province of the Empire that stretched along the eastern Adriatic coast north of the Drin river, south of which the Roman province of Macedonia began including the southern part of the traditional region of Illyria. The southeastern part, to the north of Macedonia, was organized within the province of Moesia Superior.[10] From about 69-79 AD the province of Illyricum was subsumed into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia.[11] In the Late Roman Empire the name was used for the praetorian prefecture of Illyricum.

## Name

[edit]

Main articles: Illyrians § Etymology, and Illyrians § Terminology and attestation

The region took its name from its inhabitants, the Illyrians, a group of Balkan Indo-European speaking peoples that inhabited the western part of the Peninsula in ancient times.

## Illyrian kingdoms

[edit]

Main articles: Illyrian kingdom, Dardanian Kingdom, and List of rulers of Illyria

Illyrian tribes in the 7th–4th centuries BCE

The earliest recorded Illyrian kingdom was that of the Enchele in the 8th century BC.[12] The era in which we observe other Illyrian kingdoms begins approximately at 400 BC and ends at 167 BC.[13] The Autariatae under Pleurias (337 BC) were considered to have been a kingdom.[14] The Kingdom of the Ardiaei began at 230 BC and ended at 167 BC.[15] The most notable Illyrian kingdoms and dynasties were those of Bardyllis of the Dardani and of Agron of the Ardiaei who created the last and best-known Illyrian kingdom.[16] Agron ruled over the Ardiaei and had extended his rule to other tribes as well.[17] As for the Dardanians, they always had separate domains from the rest of the Illyrians.[18]

The Illyrian kingdoms were composed of small areas within the region of Illyria. Only the Romans ruled the entire region. The internal organization of the south Illyrian kingdoms points to imitation of their neighbouring Greek kingdoms and influence from the Greek and Hellenistic world in the growth of their urban centres.[19] 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.[20] The monarchy was established on hereditary lines and Illyrian rulers used marriages as a means of alliance with other powers.[21] Pliny (23–79 AD) writes that the people that formed the nucleus of the Illyrian kingdom were 'Illyrians proper' or Illyrii proprie dicti.[22] They were the Taulantii, the Pleraei, the Endirudini, Sasaei, Grabaei and the Labeatae. These later joined to form the Docleatae.

## Roman Protectorate of Illyricum

[edit]

Further information: Illyrian Wars and Macedonian Wars

After the Roman victory in the First Illyrian War, Illyrian Queen Teuta was forced to retreat to the Bay of Kotor, and in 228 BC the Romans imposed a protectorate on the islands of Issa and Corcyra, as well as on the cities of Epidamnos, Apollonia and Oricum. The protectorate area corresponded to the usage of the Roman concept of Illyricum.[8]

During the Macedonian Wars, the territory of southern Illyria, which Rome had aimed to protect and control periodically for thirty years since the First Illyrian War, was involved in the conflict between Rome and Macedon. Macedon aimed to conquer, without success, the southern Illyrian ports because they would have been good bases for an attack upon Italy.[23][24][25]

The Romans defeated Gentius, the last king of Illyria, at Scodra (in present-day Albania) in 168 BC and captured him, bringing him to Rome in 165 BC. Four client-republics were set up, which were in fact ruled by Rome. Later, the region was directly governed by Rome and organized as a province, with Scodra as its capital.

## Roman rule

[edit]

Main articles: Illyricum (Roman province), Macedonia (Roman province), Moesia Superior, and Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum

Map of the Roman administrative divisions in Southeast Europe

Illyrian territories were organized during the Roman administration into the provinces of Illyricum, Macedonia, and Moesia Superior.

The Roman province of Illyricum roughly encompassed the territories of the last Illyrian kingdom. It stretched from the Drilon river in modern Albania to Istria (Croatia) in the west and to the Sava river (Bosnia and Herzegovina) in the north. Salona (near modern Split in Croatia) functioned as its capital.

After subduing a troublesome revolt of Pannonians and Daesitiates, Roman administrators dissolved the province of Illyricum and divided its lands between the new provinces of Pannonia in the north and Dalmatia in the south. Although this division occurred in 10 AD, the term Illyria remained in use in Late Latin and throughout the medieval period. After the division of the Roman Empire, the bishops of Thessalonica appointed papal vicars for Illyricum. The first of these vicars is said to have been Bishop Acholius or Ascholius (died 383 or 384), the friend of St. Basil. In the 5th century, the bishops of Illyria withdrew from communion with Rome, without attaching themselves to Constantinople, and remained for a time independent, but in 515, forty Illyrian bishops renewed their loyalty to Rome by declaring allegiance to Pope Hormisdas. The patriarchs of Constantinople succeeded in bringing Illyria under their jurisdiction in the 8th century.[26]

Jewish presence in Illyricum is attested during and after its incorporation into the Roman Empire. As Roman military and trade networks expanded into the region following the defeat of King Gentius, Jewish merchants, artisans, and possibly freed slaves settled in Dalmatian and Pannonian cities such as Salona, Narona, and Sirmium. These communities, often Greek-speaking and aligned with Jerusalem-based traditions, operated within Roman legal frameworks and sometimes held status as collegia. Although no literary corpus survives from Illyrian Jews, archaeological evidence, including menorahs and inscriptions, supports their presence. Some scholars suggest that these Jews formed part of broader Hellenistic Judaism diaspora patterns reaching as far as Tanais in the Crimea and Stobi in Macedonia.[27]

## In culture

[edit]

This section may contain irrelevant references to popular culture. Please help improve it by removing such content and adding citations to reliable, independent sources. (December 2024)

|

William Shakespeare chose a fictionalized Illyria as the setting for his play Twelfth Night. (The modernized film spoof She's the Man is set in "Illyria High School" in California.) Shakespeare also mentioned the region in Henry VI, Part 2.[28]

An extensive history of Illyria by Charles du Fresne, sieur du Cange, was published by Joseph Keglevich in 1746.[29]

Illyria is the setting for Jean-Paul Sartre's Les Mains Sales.

Lloyd Alexander's The Illyrian Adventure is set in Illyria in 1872.[30]

John Hawkes' 1970 novel The Blood Oranges is set in a fictionalized Illyria.[31]

There is a fictional Illyria with its inhabitants, winged fae, in the fantasy series A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas.

The fighting game series 'Guilty Gear' created by Daisuke Ishiwatari, features a fictional Illyria in its world.

The television series Angel (1999 TV series) has a character named Illyria who is a main character for the back half of the final season, as well as a prominent figure in the comic spin-offs.

The character of Una "Number One" Chin-Riley in the television series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds is a member of a humanoid species called "Illyrians".

## See also

[edit]

* Illyrian Tribes
* List of ancient tribes in Illyria
* Illyrian language
* Proposed Illyrian vocabulary
* List of rulers of Illyria
* Illyrian warfare
* Illyricum (Roman province)
* Timeline of Illyrian history

## References

[edit]

### Citations

[edit]

1. ^ Illyría and Illyrís respectively
2. ^ Polybius. Histories, 1.13.1.
3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles. "Illyria". A Latin Dictionary.
4. ^ Dzino, Danijel (2010). Illyricum in Roman Politics, 229 BC–AD 68. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9781139484237. Retrieved 29 January 2019.
5. ^ a b Hammond & Wilkes 2012, p. 726: "Illyrii, a large group of related *Indo-European tribes, who occupied in classical times the western side of the Balkan range from the head of the *Adriatic Sea to the hinterland of the gulf of Valona and extended northwards as far as the eastern *Alps and the Danube (see DANUVIUS) and eastwards into some districts beyond the Balkan range. The name was properly that of a small people between Scodra and the Mati river, and it was applied by the Greeks and later by the Romans to the other tribes with which they had regular contact. Thus Illyris meant to the Greeks the southern part of the area, that neighbouring *Mace-donia, *Epirus, and the Greek cities on the Adriatic coast and islands, and *Illyricum meant to the Romans the whole area from the eastern Alps to the gulf of Valona."
6. ^ Boardman 1982, p. 623: "Illyris, a term different from Illyria and Illyricum, was that part of Albania which lies north of the lower and middle Vijosë valley, and during most epochs it included much of the lakeland area."
7. ^ Hammond 1982, p. 261: "'Illyris', a geographical term which the Greeks applied to a territory neighbouring of their own, covers more or less the area of northern and central Albania down to the mouth of the Aous."
8. ^ a b Ivetic 2022, p. 44: "In 228, the Romans imposed a protectorate on the islands of Issa (Vis) and Corfu, and on the cities of Epidamnos (Durrës), Apollonia (present-day Pojani) and Oricum (Orikum) in the bay of Vlorë. This protectorate coincided with the use of the Roman concept of Illyricum."
9. ^ Dzino 2014, pp. 45–46: "The majority of authorities assume that this term expanded roughly from the region of the south-eastern Adriatic (modern Albania and Montenegro) with the hinterland, to the whole Roman Illyricum, between the eastern Adriatic and the Danube."
10. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 208: "By the middle of the first century the Romans were using the name Illyricum for their Adriatic territories north of the Drin, south of which the province Macedonia began."
11. ^ Šašel-Kos, "Pannonia or Lower Illyricum?" Tyche, Band 25 (2010), pp. 123–130
12. ^ Stipčević 2002, pp. 46–47.
13. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 298.
14. ^ Lewis & Boardman 1994, p. 785.
15. ^ Wilkes 1969, p. 13.
16. ^ Kipfer 2000, p. 251.
17. ^ Hammond 1993, p. 104.
18. ^ Papazoglu 1978, p. 216.
19. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 237.
20. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 127.
21. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 167.
22. ^ Wilkes 1995, p. 216.
23. ^ Morton 2017, p. 15.
24. ^ Burton 2017, pp. 24–25.
25. ^ Eckstein 2008, p. 86.
26. ^ Lins 1910, "Illyria".
27. ^ Cohen, Shaye J. D. The Beginnings of Jewishness: Boundaries, Varieties, Uncertainties. University of California Press, 1999, pp. 108–112.
28. ^ "Henry VI, part 2: Entire Play". shakespeare.mit.edu. Archived from the original on 2020-06-30. Retrieved 2016-05-07.
29. ^ du Fresne 1746, p. 1.
30. ^ "The Illyrian Adventure by Lloyd Alexander". www.publishersweekly.com. 1986-04-01. Retrieved 2022-04-01.
31. ^ Hawkes, John; Scholes, Robert (1972). "A Conversation on "The Blood Oranges" between John Hawkes and Robert Scholes". Novel: A Forum on Fiction. 5 (3): 203–204, 197–207\. doi:10.2307/1345277. JSTOR 1345277.

### Sources

[edit]

* Berranger, Danièle; Cabanes, Pierre; Berranger-Auserve, Danièle (2007). Épire, Illyrie, Macédoine: Mélanges Offerts au Professeur Pierre Cabanes. Clermont-Ferrand, France: Presses Universitaires Blaise Pascal. ISBN 978-2-84516-351-5.
* Boardman, John (1982). The Prehistory of the Balkans and the Middle East and the Aegean World, Tenth to Eighth Centuries B.C. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-22496-9.
* Burton, Paul J. (2017). Rome and the Third Macedonian War. Cambridge University Press. p. 39\. ISBN 9781108684088.
* du Fresne, Charles (1746). Illyricvm Vetvs & Novum: Sive Historia Regnorvm Dalmatiae, Croatiae, Slavoniae, Bosniae, Serviae, atqve Bvlgariae. Posonii: Typis Haeredvm Royerianorvm.
* Dzino, Danijel (2014). "'Illyrians' in ancient ethnographic discourse". Dialogues d'histoire ancienne. 40 (2): 45–65\. doi:10.3917/dha.402.0045.
* Eckstein, Arthur M. (2008). Rome Enters the Greek East From Anarchy to Hierarchy in the Hellenistic Mediterranean, 230–170 BC. Blackwell Publishing. ISBN 978-1-4051-6072-8.
* Grimal, Pierre; Maxwell-Hyslop, A. R. (1996). The Dictionary of Classical Mythology. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishing Limited. ISBN 0-631-20102-5.
* Hammond, N. G. L.; Wilkes, J. J. (2012). "Illyrii". In Hornblower, Simon; Spawforth, Antony; Eidinow, Esther (eds.). The Oxford Classical Dictionary. OUP Oxford. p. 726\. ISBN 978-0-19-954556-8.
* Hammond, Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière (1993). Studies concerning Epirus and Macedonia before Alexander. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Adolf M. Hakkert. ISBN 9789025610500.
* Hammond, Nicholas Geoffrey Lemprière (1982). Cambridge Ancient History, volume 3: The Expansion of the Greek World, Eighth to Sixth centuries B.C. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23447-6.
* Ivetic, Egidio (2022). History of the Adriatic: A Sea and Its Civilization. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 9781509552535.
* Kipfer, Barbara Ann (2000). Encyclopedic Dictionary of Archaeology. New York, New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers. ISBN 0-306-46158-7.
* Kos, M. Š. (2012). "Illyria and Illyrians". The Encyclopedia of Ancient History. John Wiley & Sons. doi:10.1002/9781444338386.wbeah09128. ISBN 9781405179355.
* Lewis, David Malcolm; Boardman, John (1994). The Cambridge Ancient History, Volume 6: The Fourth Century BC. Cambridge, United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-23348-8.
* Lins, Joseph (1910). "Illyria". The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume 7. New York, New York: Robert Appleton Company.
* Morton, Jacob Nathan (2017). "Shifting Landscapes, Policies, And Morals: A Topographically Driven Analysis Of The Roman Wars In Greece From 200 BC To 168 BC". Publicly Accessible Penn Dissertations. 2484. University of Pennsylvania.
* Papazoglu, Fanula (1978). The Central Balkan Tribes in Pre-Roman Times: Triballi, Autariatae, Dardanians, Scordisci and Moesians. Amsterdam, the Netherlands: Adolf M. Hakkert. ISBN 90-256-0793-4.
* Stipčević, Aleksandar (2002). Ilirët: Historia, Jeta, Kultura, Simbolet e Kultit. Tirana, Albania: Toena. ISBN 99927-1-609-6.
* Wilkes, John J. (1969). History of the Provinces of the Roman Empire. London, United Kingdom: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
* Wilkes, John J. (1995). The Illyrians. Oxford, United Kingdom: Blackwell Publishers Limited. ISBN 0-631-19807-5.

## External links

[edit]

* Media related to Illyria and Illyrians at Wikimedia Commons

* v
* t
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Illyrians

| Tribes|

* Albani
* Amantes
* Amantini
* Ardiaei
* Docleatai
* Labeatae
* Atintanians
* Autariatae
* Azali
* Balaites
* Baridustae
* Bassanitae
* Breuci
* Bylliones
* Daesitiates
* Dalmatae
* Tariotes
* Daorsi
* Dardani
* Galabri
* Thuantai
* Dassaretii
* Enchelei
* Eneti
* Grabaei
* Iapodes
* Iapygians
* Dauni
* Messapi
* Peuceti
* Mazaei
* Narensi
* Osseriates
* Parthini
* Penestae
* Pirustae
* Sardiatae
* Siculotae
* Taulantii
* Abroi

|

People|

* Agron
* Anastasius I Dicorus
* Artas of Messapia
* Astius
* Audata
* Aurelian
* Ballaios
* Baraliris
* Bardylis
* Bardylis II
* Bato the Breucian
* Bato the Daesitiate
* Bato Dardani
* Bircenna
* Caeria
* Caius
* Caravantius
* Celer
* Cleitus
* Constantine the Great
* Constantius Chlorus
* Constantius II
* Cynane
* Dando
* Demetrius of Pharos
* Diocletian
* Eleutherius and Antia
* Epulon
* Etuta
* Flavianus
* Galaurus
* Gentius
* Glaucias of Taulantii
* Grabos I
* Grabos II
* Gratian
* Gratianus Funarius
* Irenaeus of Sirmium
* Jerome
* Jovian
* Justin I
* Justinian I
* Longarus
* Marcellinus Comes
* Monounios
* Monunius
* Mytilos
* Peter the Patrician
* Pinnes
* Plator
* Pleuratus I
* Pleuratus II
* Pleuratus III
* Pleurias
* Scerdilaidas
* Sirras
* Tacitus
* Teuta
* Triteuta
* Valens
* Valentinian I
* Valentinian II

Political entities|

* Ardiaean-Labeatan
* Autariatan
* Dardanian
* Kingdom
* Dassaretan
* Enchelean
* Illyrian kingdom
* Taulantian

Geography
(cities/settlements)|

* Acruvium (Kotor)
* Ad Acroceraunia
* Ad Quintum
* Albanopolis
* Amantia
* Andetrium
* Antipatreia
* Apollonia
* Arduba
* Arnissa
* Aspalathos (Split)
* Aulon
* Bargulum
* Bassania
* Berat
* Bouthoe
* Brundisium
* Bushat
* Byllis
* Chinna
* Chrysondyon
* Creonion
* Damastion
* Daorson
* Lower Neretva
* Dardana Fortress
* Delminium
* Desilo (Lower Neretva)
* Dimale
* Doclea
* Doracium
* Dresnik
* Duboc
* Dukat
* Dyrrhachium/Epidamnus (Durrës)
* Enkelana
* Epicaria
* Eugenium
* Gertus
* Hedum castellum
* Hija e Korbit
* Iader or Idassa (Zadar)
* Kinna
* Kodrion
* Kratul
* Lissus (Lezhë)
* Lofkënd
* Lychnidus
* Matohasanaj
* Meteon
* Mursa (Osijek)
* Nareste
* Nikadin
* Nikaia (Klos)
* Oneum
* Oria
* Oricum
* Palaeste
* Parthus
* Pelion
* Persqopi
* Petra
* Pituntium
* Pogradec (Castle)
* Pola (Pula)
* Poslishte
* Promona
* Rabije
* Ragusa
* Rhizon
* Romajë
* Runik
* Salona
* Salvia
* Scampa (Elbasan)
* Selcë e Poshtme
* Sesarethus
* Setovia
* Scodra (Shkodër)
* Thronion
* Tilurium
* Tragurion (Trogir)
* Triport
* Tsangon
* Ugento
* Ulkinium
* Ulpiana
* Uscana
* Vendenis
* Zgërdhesh (? Albanopolis)

Culture|

* Central Bosnian cultural group
* Coinage
* Daunian stele
* Education
* Fibulae
* Glasinac-Mati culture
* Gradistë belt-plate
* Monte Saraceno woman
* Pileus
* Pottery
* Daunian
* Desilo
* Messapian
* Peucetian
* Soleto Map
* Spectacle brooch
* Tombs
* Boka-Përçeva
* Selca e Poshtme
* Trebeništa masks
* Vače Belt-Plate
* Vače Situla
* Tattooing
* Albanian traditional tattooing
* Sicanje

Religion and mythology|

* Religion
* Andinus
* Bindus
* Deipaturos
* Zojz
* En
* Medaurus
* Perëndi
* Prende
* Tomorr
* Nymphaion
* Swastika

Warfare and weaponry|

* Illyrian invasion of Epirus
* Alexander's Balkan campaign
* Siege of Pelium
* Dardanian–Bastarnic war
* Invasions of Epidamnus
* Illyro-Roman Wars
* Roman-Macedonian wars
* Battles
* Erigon Valley
* Lyncestis
* Paxos
* Pharos
* Phoenice
* Roman–Dalmatian wars
* Caesar's civil war
* Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC)
* Batonian War
* Desilo shipyard
* Helmet
* Lembus
* Liburna
* Sibyna
* Sica
* Sieges
* Issa
* Medion
* Oricum

Language|

* Illyrian
* Proposed vocabulary

Roman period|

* Illyrian emperors
* Dioceses
* Dacia
* Illyricum
* Macedonia
* Prefectures
* Illyricum
* Provinces
* Dardania
* Delmatia
* Epirus Nova
* Illyricum
* Macedonia
* Moesia Superior
* Pannonia
* Pannonia Inferior
* Pannonia Prima
* Pannonia Savia
* Pannonia Secunda
* Pannonia Superior
* Sirmium

Other|

* Illyrology
* Origin of the Albanians
* Albanian paganism
* History of the Balkans
* Prehistory of Southeastern Europe

Lists|

* People
* Tribes
* Illyrian tribes
* Settlements

* Timeline
* Category

Authority control databases

National|

* Germany
* Czech Republic

Geographic|

* Pleiades

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