Illyrian invasion of Epirus

Illyrian invasion against the Molossians (385 BC)

Invasion of Molossia

Date	385 BC
Location	Epirus
Result	Illyrian victory over Molossians and Alcetas restoration as King of Molossians^[1] Spartan intervention and Illyrian withdrawal from Epirus^[2]

Belligerents

Illyrians

Molossians

Supported by:
Syracusans

Supported by:
Thessalians
Macedonians
Spartans

Commanders and leaders

Illyrian king (most likely Bardylis)
Dionysius I
Alcetas I

Pro-Spartan Molossian dynast
Agesilaus II

Strength

unknown number of Illyrians
2,000 Syracuse soldiers

unknown

Casualties and losses

unknown

15,000 Molossians

An Illyrian invasion against the Molossians in Epirus occurred in 385 BC. Illyrians, led most likely by king Bardylis, were supported by Dionysius I of Syracuse who was aiming to expand his influence in the eastern Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, and by Alcetas I of Epirus who was expelled from his land by the Molossian pro-Spartan party and exiled in Syracuse.^[3]

History

In 385 BC, Alcetas of Epirus was a refugee in Syracuse for unknown reasons. The tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius, wanted a friendly monarch in Epirus, so he sent 2,000 Greek hoplites and 500 suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians, who at that time were led by king Bardyllis, for their battles with the Molossians in Epirus. Attackers killed about 15,000 Molossian warriors. Alcetas was restored to the throne, but the Illyrians didn't stop there. They continued pillaging throughout Epirus and parts of Greece. Dionysius joined them in an attempt to plunder the temple of Delphi. Then, Sparta, supported by Thessaly and Macedonians, intervened under Agesilaus, and expelled the Illyrians and the Syracusan warriors.^[4]

References

^ Malkin 1998, p. 247; Howe 2017, p. 103
^ Malkin 1998, p. 247
^ Malkin 1998, p. 247; Castiglioni 2007, p. 174; Lane Fox 2011, p. 225; King 2017, p. 57 Howe 2017, p. 103.
^ Diodorus, Siculus. "Fifteenth book".

Bibliography

Castiglioni, Maria Paola (2007). "Genealogical Myth and Political Propaganda in Antiquity: the Re-Use of Greek Myths from Dionysius to Augustus". In Carvalho, Joaquim (ed.). Religion and Power in Europe: Conflict and Convergence. Edizioni Plus. ISBN 978-88-8492-464-3.
Howe, T. (2017). "Plain tales from the hills: Illyrian influences on Argead military development". In Müller, S.; Howe, Tim; Bowden, H.; Rollinger, R. (eds.). The History of the Argeads: New Perspectives. Wiesbaden. ISBN 978-3447108515.
King, Carol J. (2017). Ancient Macedonia. Routledge. ISBN 9780415827287.
Lane Fox, R. (2011). "399–369 BC". In Lane Fox, R. (ed.). Brill's Companion to Ancient Macedon: Studies in the Archaeology and History of Macedon, 650 BC – 300 AD. Leiden: Brill. pp. 209–234. ISBN 978-90-04-20650-2.
Malkin, Irad (1998). The Returns of Odysseus: Colonization and Ethnicity. Berkeley: University of California Press. ISBN 9780520920262.

Illyrians

Tribes	Albani Amantes Amantini Ardiaei Docleatai Labeatae Atintanians Autariatae Azali Balaites Baridustae Bassanitae Breuci Bylliones Daesitiates Dalmatae Tariotes Daorsi Dardani Galabri Thuantai Dassaretii Enchelei Eneti Grabaei Iapodes Iapygians Dauni Messapi Peuceti Mazaei Narensi Osseriates Parthini Penestae Pirustae Sardiatae Siculotae Taulantii Abroi
People	Agron Anastasius I Dicorus Artas of Messapia Astius Audata Aurelian Ballaios Baraliris Bardylis Bardylis II Bato the Breucian Bato the Daesitiate Bato Dardani Bircenna Caeria Caius Caravantius Celer Cleitus Dardani Constantine the Great Constantius Chlorus Constantius II Cynane Dando Demetrius of Pharos Diocletian Eleutherius and Antia Epulon Etuta Flavianus Galaurus Gentius Glaucias of Taulantii Grabos I Grabos II Gratian Gratianus Funarius Irenaeus of Sirmium Jerome Jovian Justin I Justinian I Longarus Marcellinus Comes Monounios Monunius Mytilos Peter the Patrician Pinnes Plator Pleuratus I Pleuratus II Pleuratus III Pleurias Scerdilaidas Sirras Tacitus Teuta Triteuta Valens Valentinian I Valentinian II
Political entities	Ardiaean-Labeatan Autariatan Dardanian Kingdom Dassaretan Enchelean Illyrian kingdom Taulantian
Geography (cities/settlements)	Acruvium (Kotor) Ad Acroceraunia Ad Quintum Albanopolis Amantia Andetrium Antipatreia Apollonia Arduba Arnissa Aspalathos (Split) Aulon Bargulum Bassania Berat Bouthoe Brundisium Bushat Byllis Chinna Chrysondyon Creonion Damastion Daorson Lower Neretva Dardana Fortress Delminium Desilo (Lower Neretva) Dimale Doclea Doracium Dresnik Duboc Dukat Dyrrhachium/Epidamnus (Durrës) Enkelana Epicaria Eugenium Gertus Hedum castellum Hija e Korbit Iader or Idassa (Zadar) Kinna Kodrion Kratul Lissus (Lezhë) Lofkënd Lychnidus Matohasanaj Meteon Mursa (Osijek) Nareste Nikadin Nikaia (Klos) Oneum Oria Oricum Palaeste Parthus Pelion Persqopi Petra Pituntium Pogradec (Castle) Pola (Pula) Poslishte Promona Rabije Ragusa Rhizon Romajë Runik Salona Salvia Scampa (Elbasan) Selcë e Poshtme Sesarethus Setovia Scodra (Shkodër) Thronion Tilurium Tragurion (Trogir) Triport Tsangon Ugento Ulkinium Ulpiana Uscana Vendenis Zgërdhesh (? Albanopolis)
Culture	Central Bosnian cultural group Coinage Daunian stele Education Fibulae Glasinac-Mati culture Gradistë belt-plate Monte Saraceno woman Pileus Pottery Daunian Desilo Messapian Peucetian Soleto Map Spectacle brooch Tombs Boka-Përçeva Selca e Poshtme Trebeništa masks Vače Belt-Plate Vače Situla
Religion and mythology	Religion Andinus Bindus Deipaturos Zojz En Medaurus Perëndi Prende Tomorr Nymphaion Swastika
Warfare and weaponry	Illyrian invasion of Epirus Alexander's Balkan campaign Siege of Pelium Dardanian–Bastarnic war Invasions of Epidamnus Illyro-Roman Wars Roman-Macedonian wars Battles Erigon Valley Lyncestis Paxos Pharos Phoenice Roman–Dalmatian wars Caesar's civil war Battle of Dyrrhachium (48 BC) Batonian War Desilo shipyard Helmet Lembus Liburna Sibyna Sica Sieges Issa Medion Oricum
Language	Illyrian Proposed vocabulary
Roman period	Illyrian emperors Dioceses Dacia Illyricum Macedonia Prefectures Illyricum Provinces Dardania Delmatia Epirus Nova Illyricum Macedonia Moesia Superior Pannonia Pannonia Inferior Pannonia Prima Pannonia Savia Pannonia Secunda Pannonia Superior Sirmium
Other	Illyrology Origin of the Albanians Albanian folk beliefs History of the Balkans Prehistory of Southeastern Europe