List of rulers of Illyria

This is a list of rulers of Illyria, a geographical region of the western Balkans in classical antiquity. In the archaic period most parts of the region were ruled by loosely related tribes that often were part of larger tribal conglomerations like the Dalmatae. In the late 5th and the early 4th century BC, the first proto-kingdoms of the area would be created as exemplified by Bardyllis's Dardanian kingdom. In the course of the 4th century parts of the southernmost and easternmost regions of Illyria fell under the Kingdom of Macedon. The most powerful state of the area, the Ardiaean kingdom, emerged in the 2nd century BC during the rule of Agron and Teuta. It was defeated and conquered by the Roman Republic, which maintained a system of direct rule and client states before the final incorporation of the area to the Roman state after the Third Illyrian War.

Mythological



 * Lycotherses: king of Illyria and husband of Agave from Thebes.


 * Cadmus: helped the Enchelae against the other Illyrians around Lyncestia.


 * Harmonia: consort of the Phoenician Cadmus; later turned into a serpent with her husband by her grandfather Zeus.


 * Hyllus: the son of the Greek demigod Heracles, was claimed to be the earliest "Illyrian" king whom they claim to have supposedly died in 1225 BS.


 * Epidamnus: founded and ruled Epidamnos.


 * Heracles: ruled a share of Dyrrhachus' territory after aiding him in battle.


 * Ionius: mythological/historical ruler of Issa; son of Dyrrhachus, eponym of the Ionian Sea.


 * Pyraechmes: leader of the Paeonians in the Trojan War.


 * Asteropaios: second leader of the Trojan-allied Peonians; killed by Achilles.


 * Polyphemus: one-eyed giant; later version of the Illyrian myth holds him as the father of Illyrius.


 * Galatea: consort of Polyohemus.


 * Illyrius: ruled Illyria and became the eponymous ancestor of the Illyrians; son of Cadmus or Polyphemus. Illyrius had six sons and three daughters whose names were associated with specific tribes:

Sons

 * Encheleus (Εγχελαίος) of the Enchelae
 * Autarieus (Αυταριαίος) of the Autariatae
 * Dardanus (Δάρδανος) of the Dardani
 * Maedus (Μαίδος) of the Maedes
 * Taulas (Ταύλας) of the Taulantii
 * Perrhaebus (Περραιβός) of the Perrhaebi

Daughters

 * Partho (Πάρθω) of the Partheni
 * Daortho (Δαορθώ) of the Daors
 * Dassaro (Δασσαρώ) of the Dassaretae

Grandsons

 * Pannonius or Paeon (son of Autarieus) of the Pannonians or Paeonians

Greatgrandsons

 * Scordiscus (son of Pannonius) of the Scordisci
 * Triballus (son of Pannonius) of the Triballi

Illyrian Kingdom
Illyrian rulers wore bronze torques around their necks.


 * Sirras: challenged Macedonia in 423 BC over the Lyncestian case.


 * Bardyllis: Macedonian campaigns proved successful in 393, 372 and 359 BC; subjugated Epirus in alliance with Dionysius of Syracuse.
 * Grabos: enters Athenian alliance to resist Philips power in 356 BC.


 * Pleuratus I: in a losing effort in 344 BC, tried to thwart Philip's advances in Illyria.


 * Cleitus: mastermind behind the Illyrian Revolt of 335 BC against Alexander the Great.


 * Glaucias: gained control of Epidamnus in 312 BC and forced the Macedonians from the Illyrian coast.


 * Bardyllis II: managed in 290 BC to re-create the state of his grandfather in the region of Dassaretia to the west of the Lyncestian lakes.


 * Monunius I of Dardania: reigned during the Gallic invasions of 279 BC.


 * Etuta: daughter of Monunius, 3rd century BC.


 * Mytilus: waged war on Epirus in 270 BC.

Ardiaean dynasty

 * Pleuratus II: reigned in a time of peace and prosperity for the Illyrian kingdom.
 * Agron: in 231 BC, possessed the most powerful land army and navy, of any of the kings who had reigned before him; extended the kingdoms borders in the north and south.
 * Teuta: 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.
 * Scerdilaidas: allied with Rome to defeat Macedonia in 208 BC.
 * Pinnes: too young to become king; ruled under the regency of Teuta,Demetrius and Scerdilaidas.
 * Pleuratus III: rewarded by the Romans in 196 BC, with lands annexed by the Macedonians.
 * Gentius: defeated by the Romans in 168 BC during the Third Illyrian War; Illyrian kingdom ceased to exist while the king was taken prisoner.

Dardanian Kingdom

 * Longari: invaded northern borders of the Illyrian kingdom in 229 BC while Teuta was dealing with campaigns in Epirus.


 * Bato of Dardania: clashed with Macedonia in 199 BC, in order to liberate Paeonia.


 * Monunius II of Dardania: repelled the Bastarnae Invasion of Dardania in 175 BC.

Taulantian Kingdom

 * Galaurus: unsuccessfully invaded Macedonia between 678–640 BC.


 * Grabus: laid siege to Epidamnos in 437 BC in alliance with Athens and Corcyra.


 * Glaucias: mentioned as a Taulantii king in 335 BC who aided Cleitus at the Battle of Pelion.

Paeonia kingdom

 * See: List of Paeonian kings

Autariatae

 * Pleurias: campaigned against Macedonia during 337/5 BC; one of the last Autariatae kings.

Histria

 * Epulon: thwarted Roman advances in the Istrian peninsula until his death in 177 BC.

Dalmatia

 * Verzi: took the city of Promona from the Liburni in order to ambush Octavian in 34 BC.


 * Testimos: defeated by the Romans in 33 BC; Dalmatia incorporated into Roman Republic.

Messapia

 * Opis: attacked by Taras in 460 BC at Hyria, in which he died.


 * Artas: supplied the Athenians with one hundred and fifty javelin-throwers in 413 BC for the war against Syracuse.

Breucia

 * Bato II: surrendered to Tiberius in 8 AD on the bank of the Bosna river.

Pannonia

 * Pinnes of Pannonia: led Pannonians in the Great Illyrian Revolt from 6 AD.

Daesiatia

 * Bato I: defeated by the Romans in 9 AD during the Great Illyrian Revolt; end of final Illyrian resistance to Roman occupation.

Others

 * 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: engaged in battle with Macedonia in 344/343 BC.


 * Ballaios: ruled over the city of Rhizon and surrounding areas after Roman occupation, until 135 BC.

Greek

 * Philip II of Macedon: conquered Lyncestia and annexed Macedonian lands in 358 and 344 BC.
 * Alexander the Great: retained Phillip's acquisitions and suppressed Illyrian Revolt of 335 BC.
 * Cassander: conquered Greek colonies in 314 BC and parts of Illyrian coast.
 * Antigonus I Monophthalmus: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Demetrius I Poliorcetes: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Antigonus II Gonatas: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Demetrius II Aetolicus: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Antigonus III Doson: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Philip V of Macedon: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.
 * Perseus of Macedon: ruled parts of southern and eastern Illyria.


 * Pyrrhus: extended his kingdom to southern Illyria in the time of Monunius.
 * Alexander II: extended his kingdom to southern Illyria in the time of Mitylus.