ILLYRI-ITALIC TRIBES There were a number of tribes, of disputed Illyrian origins, that settled the eastern Italian coast such as the Messapi, the Iapyges, the Picenti, and the Veneti to name a few. The Messapi, who occupied the area of present Apulia or the southern heel of Italy, are believed to have spoken an Illyrian dialect. Based on inscriptions from ancient artifacts, there are similarities of proper names between the Messapi and those of the Illyrians across the Adriatic. Though it is still unclear as to whether the Messapic language was an extraction of the Illyrian language, the implements found and attributed to the Messapi do suggest an Illyrian sub-culture. The neighbors of the Messapi were the Iapyges or Japyges as they were also known. There is a very close resemblance between the name of the Iapyges and the Iapodes or Japodes, an Illyri-Celtic tribe, of the western Balkans. The Iapodes could have migrated to the southern Italic coast either by foot or, the more probable claim, by boat and evolved into the Iapyges tribe. The Picenti were a tribe known to have inhabited central Italy and archaeology has exposed a strong Illyrian presence among them. Many tumuli or burials have shown a strong liking to those of the Liburni, seafarers, of Illyria proper. The Liburni were known to have exploited both Adriatic coasts and incursions into Italy may have landed some of them there. In the northeastern part of Italy, lived the Veneti and there can be no doubt where modern day Venice gets its name. The Veneti's Illyrian origin seems to be in doubt. It appears that the Venetic language was only part Illyrian and that Venetic proper names share little resemblance to their once neighbors of the Balkans. However, the archaeological evidence supports Illyrian migrations or incursions into Italy. Couple that with the fact that today's Albanian dialect of the Arberesh (Albanian community in southern Italy) appears foreign to the Albanians of Albania, it is obvious that after many years of separation and assimilation this is what happened to the Veneti and other Illyrian tribes. |
THE TRIBES |
ILLYRI-CELTIC TRIBES The Illyrians in the north and along the Save river mingled with the Celts and adopted Celtic ways of life. The Celts began to settle the area between the Drave and Save Rivers that stretch from eastern Croatia to western Serbia in the fourth century BC. This area between the Drave and Save Rivers was once known as Pannonia and it was believed that Pannonia was named after an Illyrian tribe of the same name, the Pannonians. However, Pannonia was probably a name applied by the ancient writers for geographical purposes and not necessarily named after a tribe known to have inhabited the region. The name could have sprung from the Paeones, an Illyri-Thraco tribe who once occupied northern Macedonia and who were also known as the Paeonians. The ancient Roman historian, Appian, described those who occupied Pannonia as lacking central authority. This could be explained by the several tribes that inhabited Pannonia like the Breuci and the Scordisci. The lack of central authority implies that these tribes were independent of each other and not bound to a dominant tribe, which would leave Pannonia as only a place name, nonetheless, those who did occupy this region were called Pannonians. The Breuci settled on the Save river in northern Bosnia and it was this tribe that rebelled against the Roman occupation of Pannonia in 14 BC and again in 6 AD under a Pannonian leader named Bato. The Romans with the help of the Scordisci defeated them. The Scordisci occupied the area in northern Serbia where the Save and Drave rivers meet and they may have migrated from the Scordus mountain range in Albania and western Macedonia as the name suggests. The ancient writers refer to the Scordisci as a bloodthirsty people engaging in human sacrifice and drinking out of human skulls. A considerable Celtic imprint has also been found within the territory of the Iapodes or Japodes who once occupied the Lika Plain in Croatia. The ancient geographer, Strabo, described their armor as Celtic, but that they were tattooed like the other Illyrians. |
ILLYRI-THRACO TRIBES Although it is probable that the Illyrians in general had a kinship with the Thracians, there were several tribes that did. The Agrianes, Triballi, and Paeones tribes were considered to be both Illyrian and Thracian and the ancient writer, Herodotus, even compared the Illyrians to the Thracians as a rude and barbaric people. The Triballi - occupied an area in northwestern Bulgaria - warred with Macedon during the reign of Philip the Great and declined after the Roman conquest. On the contrary, the Agrianes who once dwelled in the area of lower eastern Serbia became allies to Macedon and their chieftain, Langarus, even assisted Alexander the Great's advances into Illyria. The Paeones or Paeonians once occupied the territory of northern Macedonia. During the fourth century BC, the Paeonians were in conflict with Macedon over Paeonian cities occupied by them. Through the course of these conflicts, the Paeonians were weakened and, inevitably, incorporated into the Macedonian Kingdom, thus, becoming Hellenized themselves. |
ILLYRI-HELLENIC TRIBES The Greeks were known to have Hellenized (adapt to Greek culture) many peoples in and around the region of Greece like the Illyrians and the Macedonians who some believe have Thracian or even Illyrian roots. In the extreme south of Illyria (Epirus) laid several Hellenized Illyrian tribes such as the Chaoni and Molossi. The assimilation of these Illyrians into Greek culture is attributed to the control the Greeks had over the island of Corcyra (todays Corfu off the coast of southern Albania), which Epirus (once southern Albania and western Greece) stood in the way of and so, controlling Epirus became a necessity for the Greeks. In the Vlore/Tepelene region of southern Albania once dwelled the Chaoni or Chaones, as they were also known. The Roman historian, Appian, mentions Chaonia, land of the Chaones, as the southern border in his description and geography of Illyria. The Chaones were regarded as a people who knew little about cultivation and ate uncooked foods. The most powerful and influential Illyri-Hellenic tribes were the Molossi who once dwelled in the border region of Albania and Greece. The Molossi were a dynastic tribe who were very much in control of Epirus. They would be both friend and foe to the northern Illyrians and, at times, controlled southern Illyria as far north as the river Shkumb in central Albania. |
ILLYRI-PROPER TRIBES These are the tribes of Illyria proper that had the largest impact on the ancient writers in their day and the best known, not to mention, truly regarded as Illyrian. The Ardiaei, once an inland tribe, were forced to move by oncoming Celts eventually settling on the Adriatic (Montenegrin coast). The ancient geographer, Strabo, lists the Ardiaei as one of the three strongest tribes - the other two being the Autariatae and the Dardani. The Ardiaei rose to power in the third century BC and came into conflict with Rome because of piracy and alliances with Macedon and were conquered in 168 BC. They were pressed back inland and disappeared from history. The ancient historian Arrian mentions the Autariatae planning an attack on Alexander the Great's army on his march into Illyria. Situated in the central Bosnian/Serbian border, Strabo expresses the Autariatae as the most powerful of the Illyrians. The Ardiaei warred with this tribe over salt mines and were defeated soundly by them. Strabo writes of the Dardani or Dardanians as 'so utterly wild that they dig caves beneath their dung hills and live there.' Strabo also mentions their love for music and dance. The Dardani (once occupied what is now Kosova and southcentral Serbia) fell into many conflicts with Macedon from the fourth to second centuries BC. They would eventually be subdued by the Ardiaei and then later by the Romans. Their name seems to have been derived from the Albanian word "dardhe" or pear. The Delmatae or Dalmatians were situated on the southern Croatian coast and came on to the historical scene during the Roman conquests. The Delmatae would continue to rebel and were one of the last Illyrian tribes to be conquered by Rome and not until 9 AD. The Encheleae controlled most of southern Illyria and were at the height of their power in the eighth and seventh centuries BC. They were the first to have an organized Illyrian state (around Lake Ohrid in Albania) or, more appropriately, tribal-state. The Encheleae warred with the Greeks that settled in and around the area. The ancient historian Herodotus seems to implicate this group as attacking the temple of Apollo at Delphi (Greece). The Liburni, seafarers, were described as the masters of the Adriatic Sea and once occupied the northern Croatian coast and surrounding islands. Their swift sailing craft would later be adopted by the Romans and named after them. Strabo recorded the oldest conflict between the Greeks and Illyrians when Hersicrates, the Corinthian, succeeded in driving the Liburni from the island of Corcyca - today's Corfu off the coast of southern Albania. The Liburni may have lived in matriarchal society. The Greek mariner, Scylax, recorded the Liburni as being dominated by women who were sexually free to engage with anyone they pleased. The Roman writer, Varro, extends this sexual freedom to the unmarried women of the Liburni as well. The Taulanti dwelled in what is today central Albania and were known to have dominated the area thwarting foreign rule. According to Thucydides, the Taulanti were involved in events that preceded the Peloponnesian war when they invaded and captured the city of Epidamnus (today's Durres) from the Greeks. The historian, Arrian, records them challenging Alexander the Great's authority in Illyria in 335 BC. During the Roman-Illyrian wars the Taulanti, surprisingly, sided with the Romans. |
