ILLYRICUM: ROME ET AL After a failed attempt by the Pannonians and the Dalmatians to liberate their territories from Roman occupation in 6 AD, the Illyrians were forced to swear allegiance to Rome. In exchange of their allegiance, the Illyrians were given local autonomy. Illyria or, more appropriately, Illyricum prospered as it became an important trade link between western and eastern Europe. The ports on the Illyrian coast became important trade routes as well. The Illyrians, who were known to be a warlike people, were naturally incorporated into the Roman military and Illyricum itself became the leading recruiting grounds for Roman legions. The Romans even used the territory of Illyricum as a strategic defense because of its mountain ranges and valleys. In the late fourth century AD when the Roman Empire is divided into the western and eastern empires, Illyricum would also be divided. The southern half of Illyricum was incorporated into the Byzantine, or Greek empire and northern Illyricum remained as part of the Roman, or Latin empire with the river Drin as the boundary between northern and southern Illyricum. The Illyrians in the highlands were not as Romanized as their lowland counterparts and some Illyrian highlanders would continue to reject Roman rule or ignore it all together such as the Albani tribe or the Albanians as they are modernly known.  The Roman geographer, Ptolemy, first records the Albani in the first century AD. Obviously, modern day Albania gets its name from them, but the Albani would not have the Romans to despise for much longer. During the fifth century, Rome was overrun by the Visigoths, Germanic tribes, who ransacked everything in their path eventually capturing the western empire and ending Roman rule in 476. The Illyrians in the highlands were protected from these invaders and the impact on the southern Illyrians who were still under the protection of the eastern empire was little. The arrival of the Slavs, however, in the sixth century AD would leave a lasting impact on the Illyrians and it was the Slavs that would ethnically change the Illyrian cultural landscape forever. The Slavic tribes - the Serbs, the Croats, and the Slovenes - conquered all of what was once Illyria proper. The inhabitants of Illyria proper would have to adapt to Slavic domination and culture, thus, the Illyrians would become thoroughly Slavonized and by the late ninth century AD they disappeared into Slavic society all together except for the Albanians. As the last surviving tribe of the Illyrians, the Albanians have preserved a part of the Illyrian tongue and tradition that exists to this day.

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