Listed 5 sub titles with search on: Information about the place for destination: "ILLYRIA Ancient country ALBANIA".
or Illyris, more rarely Illyria (to Illurikon, Illuris, Illuria),
included, in its widest signification, all the land west of Macedonia and east
of Italy and Rhaetia, extending south as far as Epirus, and north as far as the
valleys of the Savus and Dravus, and the junction of these rivers with the Danube.
This wide extent of country was inhabited by numerous Illyrian tribes, all of
whom were more or less barbarous. They were probably of the same origin as the
Thracians. The country was divided into two parts. (1) Illyris Barbara or Romana,
the Roman province of Illyricum, extended along the Adriatic sea from Italy (Istria),
from which it was separated by the Arsia, to the river Drilo, and was bounded
on the east by Macedonia and Moesia Superior, from which it was separated by the
Drinus, and on the north by Pannonia, from which it was separated by the Dravus.
It thus comprehended a part of the modern Croatia, the whole of Dalmatia, almost
the whole of Bosnia, and a part of Albania. It was divided in ancient times into
three districts, according to the tribes by which it was inhabited--Iapydia, the
interior of the country on the north, from the Arsia to the Tedanius; Liburnia,
along the coast from the Arsia to the Titius; and Dalmatia, south of Liburnia,
along the coast from the Titius to the Drilo. The Liburnians submitted at an early
time to the Romans; but it was not till after the conquest of the Dalmatians,
in the reign of Augustus, that the entire country was organized as a Roman province.
From this time the Illyrians, and especially the Dalmatians, formed an important
part of the Roman legion. (2) Illyris Graeca, or Illyria Propria, also called
Epirus Nova, extended from the Drilo, along the Adriatic, to the Ceraunian Mountains,
which separated it from Epirus proper; it was bounded on the east by Macedonia.
It thus embraced the greater part of the modern Albania.
It was a mountainous country, but possessed some fertile land
on the coast. Its principal rivers were the Aous, Apsus, Genusus, and Panyasus.
In the interior was an important lake, the Lychnitis. On the coast there were
the Greek colonies of Epidamnus, afterwards Dyrrhachium, and Apollonia. It was
at these places that the celebrated Via Egnatia commenced, which ran through Macedonia
to Byzantium. The country was inhabited by various tribes--Atintanes, Taulantii,
Parthini, Dassaretae, etc. In early times they were troublesome and dangerous
neighbours to the Macedonian kings. They were subdued by Philip, the father of
Alexander the Great, who defeated and slew in battle their king, Bardylis, in
B.C. 359. After the death of Alexander the Great, most of the Illyrian tribes
recovered their independence. At a later time the injury which the Roman trade
suffered from their piracies brought against them the arms of the Republic. The
forces of their queen, Teuta, were easily defeated by the Romans, and she was
obliged to purchase peace by the surrender of part of her dominions and the payment
of an annual tribute (B.C. 229). The second Illyrian war was finished by the Romans
with the same ease. It was commenced by Demetrius of Pharos, who was guardian
of Pineus, the son of Agron, but he was conquered by the consul Aemilius Paulus
in 219. Pineus was succeeded by Pleuratus, who cultivated friendly relations with
the Romans. His son Gentius formed an alliance with Perseus, king of Macedonia,
against Rome; but he was conquered by the praetor L. Anicius, in the same year
as Perseus (168); whereupon Illyria, as well as Macedonia, became subject to Rome.
In the new division of the Empire under Constantine, Illyricum formed one of the
great provinces. It was divided into Illyricum Occidentale, which included Illyricum
Propria, Pannonia, and Noricum, and Illyricum Orientale, which comprehended Dacia,
Moesia, Macedonia, and Thrace.
This text is cited Sep 2002 from The Perseus Project URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks
Region along the coast of the Adriatic
Sea facing Italy spanning
from northwestern Greece
all the way to what is today the Venice
area. The people of Illyria was considered “barbarous” by the Greeks
(that is, not speaking Greek).
Greek settlements were established in the southern part of Illyria,
including the city of Epidamnus,
a colony of Corcyra (itself
a colony of Corinth).
Bernard Suzanne (page last updated 1998), ed.
This text is cited July 2003 from the Plato and his dialogues URL below, which contains interesting hyperlinks.
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