THE KINGDOM OF ILLYRIA
(1225-167 B.C.)
In its beginning, the kingdom of Illyria comprised the actual territories of Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Northern and Central Albania, with a large part of modern Serbia. But in the course of its development it extended all along the eastern litoral of the Adriatic Sea. Scutara was its capital, just as she is now the capital of Northern and Central Albania.
The earliest known king of Illyria was Hyllus (The Star) who is recorded to have died in the year 1225 B. C.
The kingdom, however, reached the zenith of its expansion and development in the fourth century B. C., when Bardhyllus (White Star), one of the most prominent of the Illyrian kings, united under his scepter the kingdoms of Illyria, Molossia or Epirus and a good part of Macedonia, so that his realm extended from the port of Trieste ("market-place" in Albanian) to the Ambracic Gulf. But its decay began under the same ruler as a result of the attacks made on it by Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. On the victorious conclusion of the war against Athens, the Macedonian General Parmenion attacked and defeated the Illyrian forces between the lakes of Prespa and Ochrida, in order to recover the part of Macedonia that had been annexed by Bardhyllus.
On succeeding his father, Alexander the Great set out to pursue the war against the Illyrian kings. The Illyrian troops were entrenched at Pelion, near the present city of Koritza (Korcha, in Albanian), under the command of King Kleitos, the son of Bardhyllus. Alexander attacked them and won a complete victory over them. As a result, the Illyrian king agreed to follow his great kinsman in his expedition against the Persians. The Illyrian troops formed a considerable part of the forces of the conqueror of the Persian Empire and shared in his triumph.
Upon the death of Alexander the Illyrian kings regained their liberty of action within their territories. In the year 232 B. C. the Illyrian throne was occupied by the enterprising Teuta, the celebrated Queen whom historians have called Catherine the Great of Illyria. It was she who brought the Romans in contact with the Balkans. The depredations of her thriving navy on the rising commercial development of the Republic forced the Roman Senate to declare war against the Queen. A huge army and navy under the Roman consuls Gaius Fulvius Santumalus and Lucius Postumius Alvinus attacked Central Albania, and, after two years of protracted warfare, Teuta was induced to sue for peace (227 B.C.).
The last king of Illyria was Gentius, of pathetic memory.6 In 165 B. C. he was defeated by the Romans and brought to Rome as a captive in order to adorn the triumph of the victor.
Henceforth, Illyria became a Roman dependency. She was carved out into three independent republics the capitals of which were respectively: Scutari, Dui razzo, and Dulcigno.
(1225-167 B.C.)
In its beginning, the kingdom of Illyria comprised the actual territories of Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, and Northern and Central Albania, with a large part of modern Serbia. But in the course of its development it extended all along the eastern litoral of the Adriatic Sea. Scutara was its capital, just as she is now the capital of Northern and Central Albania.
The earliest known king of Illyria was Hyllus (The Star) who is recorded to have died in the year 1225 B. C.
The kingdom, however, reached the zenith of its expansion and development in the fourth century B. C., when Bardhyllus (White Star), one of the most prominent of the Illyrian kings, united under his scepter the kingdoms of Illyria, Molossia or Epirus and a good part of Macedonia, so that his realm extended from the port of Trieste ("market-place" in Albanian) to the Ambracic Gulf. But its decay began under the same ruler as a result of the attacks made on it by Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great. On the victorious conclusion of the war against Athens, the Macedonian General Parmenion attacked and defeated the Illyrian forces between the lakes of Prespa and Ochrida, in order to recover the part of Macedonia that had been annexed by Bardhyllus.
On succeeding his father, Alexander the Great set out to pursue the war against the Illyrian kings. The Illyrian troops were entrenched at Pelion, near the present city of Koritza (Korcha, in Albanian), under the command of King Kleitos, the son of Bardhyllus. Alexander attacked them and won a complete victory over them. As a result, the Illyrian king agreed to follow his great kinsman in his expedition against the Persians. The Illyrian troops formed a considerable part of the forces of the conqueror of the Persian Empire and shared in his triumph.
Upon the death of Alexander the Illyrian kings regained their liberty of action within their territories. In the year 232 B. C. the Illyrian throne was occupied by the enterprising Teuta, the celebrated Queen whom historians have called Catherine the Great of Illyria. It was she who brought the Romans in contact with the Balkans. The depredations of her thriving navy on the rising commercial development of the Republic forced the Roman Senate to declare war against the Queen. A huge army and navy under the Roman consuls Gaius Fulvius Santumalus and Lucius Postumius Alvinus attacked Central Albania, and, after two years of protracted warfare, Teuta was induced to sue for peace (227 B.C.).
The last king of Illyria was Gentius, of pathetic memory.6 In 165 B. C. he was defeated by the Romans and brought to Rome as a captive in order to adorn the triumph of the victor.
Henceforth, Illyria became a Roman dependency. She was carved out into three independent republics the capitals of which were respectively: Scutari, Dui razzo, and Dulcigno.
