RULERS: ILLYRIA PROPER
For simplicity, the history of the Illyrian Rulers and their kingdoms will be viewed through a "dynastic" timeline. However, what can be said for the Ardiaei, a true dynasty as control was passed within the ruling house cannot be said for Bardylis' kingdom. Although there is a bloodline within Bardylis' kingdom, they are few and far between. Nonetheless, the Illyrian kingdom and their independence begins with Bardylis.
THE KINGDOM OF BARDYLIS
(War and Macedon)
Bardylis - Usurper and founder of this dynasty. Reigned 385 to 358 BC. Bardylis was a Dardanian* coalman who acquired a huge popularity by dividing the spoils gained. Under his reign, the Illyrians nearly succeeded in destroying the kingdom of Macedon, however, in 359 BC, Philip the Great conquered the Illyrians. Bardylis made peace with Philip before dying in 358 BC at the age of 90.
Grabus - Attested in 356 BC. His name is evidently a dynastic one in the royal house of the Grabaei* (Illyrians who lived around the Lake of Shkoder in northern Albania). In a coalition contrived by the Athenians, Grabus of Illyria, Lysippus of Paeonia and Cetriporis of Thrace combined to resist the rising power of the Macedonians. Philip II advanced on this coalition before they had a chance to unite their forces. In a great battle, Grabus was defeated by Parmenio (Macedonian general) and was compelled to serve under Macedon.
Pleuratus I - Testified in 344 BC. Pleuratus' name is a dynastic one from the royal house of the Ardiaei. After Philip's reduction of the Grabaei, Pleuratus, in a losing effort, tried to thwart Philip's advances in Illyria almost succeeding in killing Philip in 337 if not for a bodyguard receiving Pleuratus' sword.
Skerdilaidas - Reigned from 212 to 206 BC. He was the brother of Agron. Skerdilaidas kept his alliance with Rome, but his kingdom was in constant attack from Macedon.
Pleuratus II - Son of Skerdilaidas. Reigned from 205 to 180 BC. He remained an ally of Rome and invaded Illyrian territories held by Philip V of Macedon. In 197 BC, having grown tiresome of Philip's attacks on their allies, the Romans set out after Philip and destroyed him. For his contribution and because of his alliance with Rome, Pleuratus was awarded with great wealth.
Kleitus - Son of Bardylis. Attested in 335 BC. After the death of Philip II, Glaukias, ruler of the Taulanti, joined Kleitus when he rebelled against Alexander the Great in 335 BC. Glaukias gave Kleitus sanctuary when their effort for independence had been defeated and pursued by Alexander to the mountains of the Taulanti.
Glaukias - Ruler of the Taulanti and then Illyrian king from 317 to 303 BC. In 314 BC, Glaukias was defeated by Cassander, successor of Alexander the Great, who reclaimed possession of Dyrrachium and Apollonia and bound the Illyrian king by treaty not to attack the allies of Macedon. Glaukias is best known as the adoptive father of Pyrrhus, the famous Molossian prince and later king of Epirus.
Bardylis II - Attested in 295 to 290 BC he was the son of Kleitus. Not much is known of this Illyrian king or what territory he held after the reign of Glaukias. However, being that Pyrrhus was the adopted son of Glaukias, it is very possible that Bardylis II and Pyrrhus shared Glaukias' kingdom** and the marriage of Birkenna, the daughter of Bardylis II, to Pyrrhus only lends support to that theory and the establishment of Pyrrhus' power in southern Illyria.
Monunius - Attested in 280 BC. Monunius was of Dardanian royalty and thus possibly a descendent or relative of Bardylis. In 280 BC, Monunius joined Ptolemy, the ruler of Thrace, in an attack on Ptolemy Ceraunus, the king of Macedon. In that same year, the Celts invaded Macedon and Monunius offered Ptolemy Ceraunus 20,000 soldiers, but being suspicious of Monunius' intentions, he rejected the offer and the Celts destroyed Macedon in 279 BC. In the aftermath and death of the Macedonian king, a coin of Macedonian type with the legend "MONOYNIOY" should be attributed to this Illyrian king and possibly the Macedonian throne.
Mytilius- Attested about 270 BC. Mytilius was the successor of Monunius. Mytilius, unsuccessfully, invaded territories in southern Illyria held by Alexander of Epirus,son of Pyrrhus. Following his predecessor's footsteps (Monunius was the first Illyrian king to have issued coins), Mytilius also struck coins bearing his name. Both kings minted their coins at Dyrrachium.
Agron - Son of Pleuratus. Reigned from 250 to 230 BC. Agron had the most powerful force, both by land and sea and the greatest kingdom known to the Illyrians. His kingdom included much of Illyria proper, Epirus and the island of Corcyra. In 231 BC, Demetrius II, king of Macedon, pleaded to Agron for military aid against the Aetolians (Greeks). In a military defeat that rocked Mount Olympus, the brave Illyrian soldiers routed the mighty Aetolians and returned home with great booty. Agron, overjoyed with the news, drank himself into oblivion and died in the winter of 230 BC.
Queen Teuta
Queen Teuta , was an Illyrian queen and regent who reigned approximately from 231 BC to 228 BC.
After the death of Agron (250 BC?-231 BC) who established the first kingdom of Illyria, extending from Dalmatia on the north to the Aous (Vjosa river) River on the south with Shkodër as its capital, his widow, Teuta, acted as regent for her young stepson Pinnes. Teuta's first decision was to drive the Greek colonies off the Albanian coast. Attempting this, she found Durrës too well fortified but Finiq farther south surrendered. While her Illyrian ships were off the coast of Sarandë they intercepted and plundered some merchant vessels of Rome. Encouraged by this success, Teuta's pirates extended their operations southward in the Ionian Sea, westward along the coast of Italy, and were soon feared as the terror of the Adriatic.
The Roman Senate sent two ambassadors to the pirate lair at Shkodër to require reparations and demand an end to the piratical expeditions. Apparently she told the ambassadors that according to the law of the Illyrians, piracy was a lawful trade and that her government had no right to interfere with this as a private enterprise. One of the envoys is repored to have replied that in that case Rome would make it her business to introduce better law among the Illyrians. At any rate, one of the ambassadors addressed the queen so disrespectfully that her attendants killed him as he embarked for Rome.
This was too much for Rome to endure. In 229 BC, Rome declared war on Illyria and for the first time armies crossed the Adriatic to Illyria (the Balkan Peninsula in modern usage). The Roman fleet of 200 ships went first to Corcyra. Teuta's governor, Demetrius had little alternative but to surrender, and the Romans awarded him a considerable part of Teuta's holdings (228 BC). The Roman army then landed farther north at Apollonia. The combined army and navy proceeded northward together, subduing one town after another and besieging Shkodra, the capital. Teuta finally surrendered in 227 BC, having to accept an ignominious peace. The Romans allowed her to continue her reign but restricted her to a narrow region around Shkodra, deprived her of all her other holdings, and forbade her to sail an armed ship below Lissus (Lezhë) just south of the capital. They also required her to pay an annual tribute and to acknowledge the final authority of Rome. Thus the damage was done. Thanks to Queen Teuta the expanding empire of Rome had learned the military route to the Balkan peninsula.
According to John Wilkes, "With such a large repertoire of Illyrian names it is possible to consider etymologies and links with other Indo-European languages of which a fuller record survives. Thus it seems generally agreed that the name of the Illyrian queen Teuta of the third century BC derives from Teutana, which means queen."
Pinnes - Reigned from 230 to 217 BC. Pinnes was the son of Agron and Triteuta, Agron's first wife. However, being a minor at the time of Agron's death, Pinnes ruled under the tutelage of his stepmother, Teuta. Feeling the pressures of the local chieftains who demanded more freedom and power, Teuta, gave in to them and soon the Adriatic and Ionian seas began being plundered by Illyrian pirates. Greece, losing ships and trade to Illyrian pirates, pleaded to Rome for help. Rome sent envoys to Illyria. Teuta, who would not hear of any foreign influence within her state, rebuffed and ambushed them. In 229 BC (first Roman-Illyrian War), Rome set out for Illyria. Knowing she was no match against the Roman armies, Teuta agreed to peace terms and abdicated the throne to Pinnes. Pinnes again would be pushed aside. The Greek, Demetrius of Pharos (todays Croatian island of Hvar), marries Pinnes' mother, Triteuta, and gains control of the kingdom. Disregarding the peace terms with the Romans, Demetrius, allied the Illyrian kingdom with Macedon who happened to be Rome's enemy. In 219 BC (second Roman-Illyrian War), a powerful Roman army was sent against Demetrius and after fierce battle, Demetrius retreats to Macedon. The throne is restored to Pinnes who dies suddenly in 217 BC at the age of 15.
Gentius - Son of Pleuratus. Ruled from 180 to 168 BC. Given his intemperate habits and lack of restraint, Gentius treated his subjects with great cruelty. Furthermore, fearing he might lose political strength, he even had his brother, Plator, put to death. Gentius was soon to make a costly mistake. Gentius renewed associations with Macedon and that threw the Romans into a rage. Roman commanders led a force of 30, 000 soldiers towards Shkodra (Illyrian capital). In 168 BC (third Roman-Illyrian War), Gentius was forced to surrender. He and his entire family are taken into Roman custody. The Illyrian kingdom and their political independence end with Gentius. Rome annexes Illyria and it becomes the Roman province 'Illyricum.
Byllis - was an Illyrian king of the late 2nd century BC, known from his coinage, which is well-attested; in fact, the coins of the well-known Illyrian king Gentius are scarce in comparison to the coins of Ballaios.
Byllis appears to have ruled after 168 BC at Queen Teuta's old stronghold, Rhizon (now Risan). His silver issues are rare, but bronze coins (without the royal title) occur on Hvar, both in single finds and in hoards, and at Rhizon in a different series bearing the royal title. The coins of Ballaios were widely imitated in the region, sometimes so crudely that they are unintelligible
Baraliris - was an Illyrian ruler, who after seeing a sign in a dream, embarked on a series of military victories which allowed him to extend Illyrian rule over the Molossians and other tribes, as far as the frontiers of Macedon