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Ancient Army Lists

Illyrians (DBA 26)
(700 BC-10 AD)

"Their high opinion of their own fighting qualities
led to rash behavior that got them into tight places
from which only their own prowess
could extricate them." -- Phil Barker

Ancient Illyria comprised the area of the western Balkans (Slovenia, Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Serbia) including the region of Epirus in the northwest of Greece. The Illyrians (of Indo-European stock) migrated to this region in approximately 1300 BC along with their Dorian cousins who pushed farther to overwhelm the Mycenean culture in Greece. (Although some historians argue that the Illyrians have roots as early as 2000 BC in the region).

Illyria was populated by a multitude of "barbarous" tribes (barbarous to the Greek and Roman historians who provide the only historical record), living along the eastern shore of the Adriatic Sea and inland in adjoining mountains. Among the noted tribes were the Jagyges (who migrated to Apulia and Calabria in Italy in the 8th Century BC), Veneti (who migrated to northern Italy in the 7th Century BC), Dalmati, Pannonians, Enkalayes, Taulantes, Epirotes (a.k.a. Pelasgians), Ardriaii, and the Ardianes. The first known Illyrian king was Hyllus (The Star) whose death was recorded in 1225 B.C.

The DBA Illyrian list starts in 700 BC, a period during which the Greeks were establishing colonies (e.g. Epidamnus, Apollonia) along the Adriatic coast, bringing the Illyrian tribes into contact with Greek civilization. The height of Illyrian power, however, lies between 450-200 BC.

The first great king was Bardhylus (White Star), who united Illyria and Molossia (Epirus) and, who along with his son Kleitos, successfully fought against Macedonian expansion and annexed large portions of western Macedonia. In 385 BC, Bardyhlus, with allied troops provided by Dionysius I of Syracuse, launched a campaign against Epeiros (Epirus). Their Macedonian conquests were recovered by King Philip by 357 BC, and Alexander the Great reinforced his succession with an Illyrian campaign in 335 BC.

In 312 B.C., King Glauk of Illyria expelled the Greek colonists from Durrės.

Around 250 BC, the Illyrian tribes Ardriaii and Antariates, under their rulers Pleuratos and Agron, mounted naval raids in the Adriatic against the Greek colonies and neighboring islands of Corcya and Phoros. The Greek city of Issa sent to Rome for aid, thus attracting Roman attention to the region.

With the death of King Agron in 232 BC, Queen Teuta assumed the throne of Illyria and engaged her navy against Roman commercial shipping on the Adriatic, prompting the Roman Senate to declare war. After two years of protracted war on land and sea, the Roman army under Santumalus and Alvinus forced Queen Teuta to submit to a Roman peace (227 B.C.). Continued Illyrian piracy prompted renewal of the war in 219 BC, but ended with similar results.

In 171 BC, King Genthius of Illyria sided with Perseus of Macedonia against the Romans. After defeating the Macedonians, the Romans brought Genthius to Rome as a captive, then banished him, leaving his kingdom to disintegrate. Dalmatia seceded soon after, and Rome occupied Skhodra as a Roman colony, which they renamed Illyricum in 168 BC. Rome then conquered Dalmatia in 78-77 BC, converted Illyricum into a full-fledged Roman province in 59 BC, annexed southern Illyria in 35-34 BC, pacified the remaining Illyrian tribes in 23 BC, and added Pannonia in the north in 9 BC.

In 6 AD, the Illyrian tribes rebelled against their Roman rulers, who took until 9 AD to restore order, thus ending the Illyrian DBA list. Thereafter Illyricum was split into the two Roman provinces of Pannonia and Dalmatia.

Illyrian Army List

The CnC can also fight dismounted with the Illyrian Auxilia.

The Illyrians were skilled boat builders and sailors, who plied the Adriatic in light swift galleys known as liburnae (or Roman Liburnian).

Enemies

The Illyrians enjoy a long and extensive list of DBA enemies including the Early North Greeks (24c), Thracians (27), Later Hoplite Greek (32), Gallic (35), Alexandrian Macedonian (36), Lysimachid (39), Macedonian Early Successor (40), Pyrrhic (43), Polybian Roman (46b), Later Macedonian (49), and Marian Roman (59), as well as themselves. The list should also include the Early Imperial Romans (64) representing the final rebellion of 6-9 AD.

Miniatures

I am not aware of any specific Illyrian ranges, but would think Thracians (offered by a wide-range of manufacturers) could be employed as Illyrians.

Resources

The Illyrians, by John Wilkes (Blackwell Press, 1995). 356 pages.

Macedonia, Thrace and Illyria: their relations to Greece from the earliest times down to the time of Philip, son of Amyntas, by Stanley Casson (out of print).

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Last Updated: March 6, 2001

Questions, comments, suggestions welcome. Send them to Chris Brantley, brant@erols.com.