Glaucias of Taulanti
Encyclopedia
For other persons with the same name, see Glaucias
Glaucias was one of the greatest Illyrian kings of the Taulanti State which dominated Illyrian affairs in the second half of the 4th century BC.
Glaucias is first mentioned as bringing a considerable force to the assistance of Cleitus of Dardania, another Illyrian prince, against Alexander the Great, in the battle of Pelium 335 BC
. They were, however, both defeated, and Cleitus was forced to take refuge within the Taulantian territories, whither Alexander did not pursue him, his attention being called elsewhere by the news of the revolt of Thebes
.
We next hear of Glaucias, nearly 20 years later, as affording an asylum to the infant Pyrrus
, when his father Aeacides
was driven out of Epirus; Glaucias' wife Beroea
belonged to the Molossian Aeacidae. By this measure he gave offence to Cassander
, who sought to gain possession of Epirus
for himself, and who in vain offered Glaucias 200 talents
to give up the child.
Not long after, the Macedonian king invaded his territories, and defeated him in battle; but though Glaucias bound himself by the treaty which ensued to refrain from hostilities against the allies of Cassander
, he still retained Pyrrhus at his court, and, after the death of Alcetas II of Epirus
, in 307 BC
, he took the opportunity to invade Epirus with an army, and establish the young prince, then 12 years old, upon the throne. The territories of Glaucias bordered upon those of Apollonia
and Epidamnos
, and this proximity involved him in frequent hostilities with those states. In 312 BC
he gained control of Epidamnus. The date of his death is not mentioned, but it appears that he was still reigning in 302 BC
, when Pyrrhus repaired to his court, to be present at the marriage of one of his sons.
, Galucias' father Pleuratus I engaged in battle with Philip II of Macedon. In a losing effort Pleuratus I, tried to thwart Philip's advances in Illyria and managed to wound Philip himself and fifty of his elite forces on their pursuit. Philip was wounded and lost part of his close group of friends, finally contenting himself with the possession of the Illyrian region of Dassaretia. After this, Isocrates
delimits the Taulantii State only to the landsalong the Adriatic. It seems that during his early reign, probably before 335 BC
, Glaucias and Alexander might have had quite friendly relations, although this is not known for sure. As a royal page Alexander had accompanied his father Philip II
on Illyrian campaigns. In 337 BC
he had escorted his mother Olympias
to Epirus
and gone from there to Illyria where he stayed with one or more kings, perhaps indeed with Glaucias. Alexander might have also had relations living in Illyria at that time and took shelter there when he quarreled with his father. However, the Taulantii State continued its anti-Macedonian policy when until the Illyrians rose in rebellion.
Alexander was probably in Agriananian territory when news had reached him of the Illyrian offensive preparations in 335 BC. The Autariatae
State under Pleurias
planned to attack him on the north, Cleitus the king of the Dardanian State had risen in revolt and Glaucias had entered into an alliance and joined the cause of Cleitus. Cleitus had occupied the city of Pelion
the capital of his forefathers in Dassaretia. Pelion lay on the Illyrian side of Wolf's Pass (Qafa e Ujkut). Lake little Prespa, since Philips annexation of this part of Illyria, lay on the Macedonian side. Pelion at the time was the strongest city in the region and it was favorably situated for making attacks into Macedonia.
Alexander found that Cleitus had not only occupied Pelion but also the surrounding heights, which look down on the city and cover approach to the Wolf's pass. It was evident that he was waiting for Glaucias to arrive. Alexander wanted to strike at Cleitus first. He therefor pitched and fortified a camp on the river Eordaicus in full sight of the Dardanians, and next mornig he moved his army up to the wall of Pelion. This move brought the Dardanians down from the heights in order to attack the Macedonians in the flanks and rear. Alexander
promptly about-turned his army and routed the Dardanians. Alexander decided next to build a wall round Pelion, so that he could blockade the city and his army could operate inside is own defenses.
Next day Glaucias, at the head of a large army
, came from the plain of Koritsa through the Tsangon pass and joined forces with Cleitus. Alexander was heavily outnumbered and knew for the first and last time the bitter taste of failure. He acted at once, sending his baggage train of horse-drawn wagons with an escort of cavalry under Philotas
to round up supplies in the plain of Koritsa. Glaucias having failed to guard the Tsangon pass carefully allowed the Macedonians to proceed about their business. Galaucias now rectified his mistake and occupied both sides of the pass in hope of catching Philotas' foraging party on its return. Alexander too divided his forces. Leaving sufficient troops to the Dardani
an garrison penned up inside Pelion, he marched to the Tsangon pass with the Hypaspists, archers and Agrianians and two squadrons of cavalry
, some 5,00 men in total, and cleared the pass. Glaucias' Taulantians did not even put up a fight, and the baggage train
returned in safety.
The effect of this success could only be short lived in terms of supply. The troops of Glaucias and Cleitus seemed still to have caught Alexander in a different position; for the Illyrians held the commanding heights with large numbers of cavalry, large numbers of javelin
-men and slingers
, and no small force of heavy-armed infantry
as well. The next morning Alexanders plan was not to retreat, but to advance through the middle of the Illyrian forces, thereby keeping them divided and his own men united. In order to do so, he had to deceive the Illyroians and then seize the narrow passage which he had in mind, namely the Wolf's pass, confined between the river on one side and high cliffs on the other side and admitting only four men abreast at its narrowest point. Next morning the deception was achieved by a superb piece of drill. The Macedonians paraded on the flat plain
, without its baggage train, put with its catapults, which led the Illyrians under Glaucias and Cleitus to expect an assault upon the walls of Pelion. The drill was executed by the phalanx
in a solid block of men, 100 men wide and 120 men deep, and by a squadron
of 200 cavalry
men on each flank. Glaucias enjoying a grandstand view from the battlements of Pelion and the surrounding heights, was amazed by the precision of the drill and bewildered by the changing movements. Suddenly Alexander formed the left front of the phalanx into a wedge(embolon) and charged Cleitus' troops on the nearest slopes. The Dardanians fled at the mere onset. Next the Macedonians using warlike threats, forced Glaucias' army to withdraw towards Pelion.
Three days later Alexander mounted a night attack. The Illyrians had assumed that he fled for good; so now the bivouacked their men over a wide area and did not build field defenses or mount guards. Learning of their dispositions the Macedonians came back at night, leading the Hypaspists, archers and Agrianians and two phalanx brigades(in all over 7,000 men). The Illyrians were devastated in which the Maceodnians who struck in a deep formation
at the very end of the Illyrian line, killed many in their beds and started a panic which became a rout as the infantry
line poured through the gap and rolled up the Illyrian line from east to west. Cleitus and his army under his immediate command , escaped into Pelion, but the rest suffered the thoroughness of the cavalry pursuit. It was carried to the mountains of Glaucias' State, some 95 km away. Cletius burnt Pelion in order to net let it fall into the hands of the Macedonians, and went to join Glaucias in the region of Tirana
.
, or at least to some of them' how much had changed since they had brought Macedonia to its knees barely 50 years before under the command of Bardyllis
. In 334 BC
a number of Illyrian infantrymen served in Alexanders expeditionary force and many more Illyrian troops were later to serve in Asia
. They probably went with the acquiescence of Glaucias and Cleitus. Glaucias though defeated by the Macedonians, survived for more than a generation.
, six years after the death of Alexander and with power in Macedonia in the hands of the ruthless Cassander
, Glaucias offered asylum to the infant Pyrrhus
after the expulsion of his father Aeacides from his kingdom among the Molossians
. As Plutarch
describes that after eluding their pursuers, they arrived in Illyria, and finding Glaucias at home with his wife, they placed the baby on the ground between their feet. Pyrrhus crawled by himself on all fours up to Glaucias and, having caught his robe, rose on his feet by holding onto the King's knees. Glaucias laughed, but then it hurt him so he sent Pyrrhus to his wife, Beroea and ordered her to raise him along with his other sons. Although Cassander promised Glaucias 200 talents, he did not hand him over.
Glaucias' wife Beroea
was herself a Molossian princess. Pyrrhus grew to manhood safe among Glaucias and the Taulantii State, and around five years later in 307 BC, Glaucias invaded Epirus
with an army, put the anti-Cassander party in power in Molossia, and placed the twelve year old Pyrrhus on the throne with the guardians representing that party. In this way Glaucias challenged Macedonia for the second time after the Battle of Pelion in 335 BC. This was not simply a sentimental action but more an attempt to secure the existence of his own state, constantly under attack from Macedonia so therefor Glaucias needed Epirus as a n ally. In 303/2 BC Pyrrhus came to the court of Glaucias, presumably by now his adoptive father, ta attend the marriage of one of hs sons.
Glaucias was in league with the two Greek colonies of Epidamnus and Apollonia
as well as with the island of Corcyrawhile Cassander was at a low ebb. In 314 BC Cassander attacked Apollonia. He captured it at the first onslaught. Advancing north and crossing the Genusus(Shkumbin
) river, he defeated the army Glaucias, tricked the people of Epidamnus by making a feigned retreat and placed a garrison in the city. Glaucias was left on his throne under a treaty which required him not to attack Cassanders allies.
In 313 BC the whole arrangement collapsed. Glaucias laid siege to Apollonia in 312 BC and with the help of the Sparta
n Acrotatus, took away the Macedonian garrison. Meanwhile trouble arose in Epirus and Corcyra taking advantage of this situation, sent help Apollonia and Epidamnus, overpowered Cassander's garrison in the latter and gave the city to Glaucias. Apollonia was now free and hostile to Macedonia. Before gaining control of Epidamnus his forces were joined by the oligarchy
of the city that had been expelled by the democrats
and the Corcyraeans.
The date of his death is not mentioned, but it appears that he was still reigning in 302 BC, when Pyrrhus repaired to his court, to be present at the marriage of one of his sons. It is not sure if Bardyllis II and Pyrrhus
both absorbed or inherited the Taulantii State after Glaucias.
Glaucias was one of the greatest Illyrian kings of the Taulanti State which dominated Illyrian affairs in the second half of the 4th century BC.
Glaucias is first mentioned as bringing a considerable force to the assistance of Cleitus of Dardania, another Illyrian prince, against Alexander the Great, in the battle of Pelium 335 BC
335 BC
Year 335 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calenus and Corvus...
. They were, however, both defeated, and Cleitus was forced to take refuge within the Taulantian territories, whither Alexander did not pursue him, his attention being called elsewhere by the news of the revolt of Thebes
Thebes, Greece
Thebes is a city in Greece, situated to the north of the Cithaeron range, which divides Boeotia from Attica, and on the southern edge of the Boeotian plain. It played an important role in Greek myth, as the site of the stories of Cadmus, Oedipus, Dionysus and others...
.
We next hear of Glaucias, nearly 20 years later, as affording an asylum to the infant Pyrrus
Pyrrhus of Epirus
Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman of the Hellenistic era. He was king of the Greek tribe of Molossians, of the royal Aeacid house , and later he became king of Epirus and Macedon . He was one of the strongest opponents of early Rome...
, when his father Aeacides
Aeacides of Epirus
Aeacides , king of Epirus , was son of Arymbas and grandson of Alcetas I. He succeeded to the throne of Epirus on the death of his cousin Alexander, who was slain in Italy. Aeacides married Phthia, the daughter of Menon of Pharsalus, by whom he had the celebrated Pyrrhus and two daughters, Deidamia...
was driven out of Epirus; Glaucias' wife Beroea
Beroea of Epirus
Beroea of Epirus was an ancient Greek princess of the tribe of the Molossians, that was married to the Illyrian king Glaukias. She raised Pyrrhus of Epirus....
belonged to the Molossian Aeacidae. By this measure he gave offence to Cassander
Cassander
Cassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
, who sought to gain possession of Epirus
Epirus
The name Epirus, from the Greek "Ήπειρος" meaning continent may refer to:-Geographical:* Epirus - a historical and geographical region of the southwestern Balkans, straddling modern Greece and Albania...
for himself, and who in vain offered Glaucias 200 talents
Attic talent
The Attic talent , also known as the Athenian talent or Greek talent, is an ancient unit of mass equal to 26 kg, as well as a unit of value equal to this amount of pure silver. A talent was originally intended to be the mass of water required to fill an amphora . At the 2009 price of $414/kg, a...
to give up the child.
Not long after, the Macedonian king invaded his territories, and defeated him in battle; but though Glaucias bound himself by the treaty which ensued to refrain from hostilities against the allies of Cassander
Cassander
Cassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
, he still retained Pyrrhus at his court, and, after the death of Alcetas II of Epirus
Alcetas II of Epirus
Alcetas I , king of Epirus, was the son of Tharypus. For a reason, of which we are not informed, he was expelled from his kingdom, and took refuge with Dionysius I of Syracuse, by whom he was reinstated. After his restoration we find him the ally of the Athenians, and of Jason of Pherae, the...
, in 307 BC
307 BC
Year 307 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caecus and Violens...
, he took the opportunity to invade Epirus with an army, and establish the young prince, then 12 years old, upon the throne. The territories of Glaucias bordered upon those of Apollonia
Apollonia, Illyria
Apollonia was an ancient Greek city in Illyria, located on the right bank of the Aous river . Its ruins are situated in the Fier region, near the village of Pojani, in modern-day Albania...
and Epidamnos
Epidamnos
The ancient Greek city of Epidamnos , later the Roman Dyrrachium was founded in 627 BCE in Illyria by a group of colonists from Corinth and Corcyra...
, and this proximity involved him in frequent hostilities with those states. In 312 BC
312 BC
Year 312 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Corvus and Mus...
he gained control of Epidamnus. The date of his death is not mentioned, but it appears that he was still reigning in 302 BC
302 BC
Year 302 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Denter and Paullus...
, when Pyrrhus repaired to his court, to be present at the marriage of one of his sons.
Background
In 344 BC344 BC
Year 344 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Rutilus and Torquatus...
, Galucias' father Pleuratus I engaged in battle with Philip II of Macedon. In a losing effort Pleuratus I, tried to thwart Philip's advances in Illyria and managed to wound Philip himself and fifty of his elite forces on their pursuit. Philip was wounded and lost part of his close group of friends, finally contenting himself with the possession of the Illyrian region of Dassaretia. After this, Isocrates
Isocrates
Isocrates , an ancient Greek rhetorician, was one of the ten Attic orators. In his time, he was probably the most influential rhetorician in Greece and made many contributions to rhetoric and education through his teaching and written works....
delimits the Taulantii State only to the landsalong the Adriatic. It seems that during his early reign, probably before 335 BC
335 BC
Year 335 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Calenus and Corvus...
, Glaucias and Alexander might have had quite friendly relations, although this is not known for sure. As a royal page Alexander had accompanied his father Philip II
Philip II
-People:* Philip II of Macedon * Philip II Philoromaeus * Philip II of France * Philip II of Navarre * Philip II of Taranto * Philip II, Duke of Burgundy * Philip II, Duke of Savoy...
on Illyrian campaigns. In 337 BC
337 BC
Year 337 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Longus and Paetus...
he had escorted his mother Olympias
Olympias
Olympias was a Greek princess of Epirus, daughter of king Neoptolemus I of Epirus, the fourth wife of the king of Macedonia, Philip II, and mother of Alexander the Great...
to Epirus
Epirus (ancient state)
Epirus was an ancient Greek state, located in the geographical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans. The homeland of the ancient Epirotes was bordered by the Aetolian League to the south, Thessalia and Macedonia to the east and Illyrian tribes to the north...
and gone from there to Illyria where he stayed with one or more kings, perhaps indeed with Glaucias. Alexander might have also had relations living in Illyria at that time and took shelter there when he quarreled with his father. However, the Taulantii State continued its anti-Macedonian policy when until the Illyrians rose in rebellion.
Alexander was probably in Agriananian territory when news had reached him of the Illyrian offensive preparations in 335 BC. The Autariatae
Autariatae
The Autariatae or Autariates were an ancient people that eventually became the most powerful Illyrian tribe. Their territory was called...
State under Pleurias
Pleurias
Pleurias was an Illyrian king of the Autariatae State. In 337 BC Pleurias almost succeeded in killing Philip when he was on his Balkan campaigns...
planned to attack him on the north, Cleitus the king of the Dardanian State had risen in revolt and Glaucias had entered into an alliance and joined the cause of Cleitus. Cleitus had occupied the city of Pelion
Pelion
Pelion or Pelium is a mountain at the southeastern part of Thessaly in central Greece, forming a hook-like peninsula between the Pagasetic Gulf and the Aegean Sea...
the capital of his forefathers in Dassaretia. Pelion lay on the Illyrian side of Wolf's Pass (Qafa e Ujkut). Lake little Prespa, since Philips annexation of this part of Illyria, lay on the Macedonian side. Pelion at the time was the strongest city in the region and it was favorably situated for making attacks into Macedonia.
Battle of Pelion
Alexander
Alexander is a common male first name, and less common surname. The most famous is Alexander the Great, the King of Macedon who created one of the largest empires in ancient history.- Origin :...
promptly about-turned his army and routed the Dardanians. Alexander decided next to build a wall round Pelion, so that he could blockade the city and his army could operate inside is own defenses.
Next day Glaucias, at the head of a large army
Army
An army An army An army (from Latin arma "arms, weapons" via Old French armée, "armed" (feminine), in the broadest sense, is the land-based military of a nation or state. It may also include other branches of the military such as the air force via means of aviation corps...
, came from the plain of Koritsa through the Tsangon pass and joined forces with Cleitus. Alexander was heavily outnumbered and knew for the first and last time the bitter taste of failure. He acted at once, sending his baggage train of horse-drawn wagons with an escort of cavalry under Philotas
Philotas
Philotas was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When Alexander became king of Macedonia with Parmenion's support Philotas (in Greek, Φιλώτας, died October 330 BC) was the eldest son of Parmenion, Alexander's most experienced and talented general. When...
to round up supplies in the plain of Koritsa. Glaucias having failed to guard the Tsangon pass carefully allowed the Macedonians to proceed about their business. Galaucias now rectified his mistake and occupied both sides of the pass in hope of catching Philotas' foraging party on its return. Alexander too divided his forces. Leaving sufficient troops to the Dardani
Dardani
Dardania was the region of the Dardani .Located at the Thraco-Illyrian contact zone, their identification as either an Illyrian or Thracian tribe is uncertain. Their territory itself was not considered part of Illyria by Strabo. The term used for their territory was , while for other tribes had...
an garrison penned up inside Pelion, he marched to the Tsangon pass with the Hypaspists, archers and Agrianians and two squadrons of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, some 5,00 men in total, and cleared the pass. Glaucias' Taulantians did not even put up a fight, and the baggage train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
returned in safety.
The effect of this success could only be short lived in terms of supply. The troops of Glaucias and Cleitus seemed still to have caught Alexander in a different position; for the Illyrians held the commanding heights with large numbers of cavalry, large numbers of javelin
Javelin
A Javelin is a light spear intended for throwing. It is commonly known from the modern athletic discipline, the Javelin throw.Javelin may also refer to:-Aviation:* ATG Javelin, an American-Israeli civil jet aircraft, under development...
-men and slingers
Slingers
The Slingers are a group of fictional superheroes in the Marvel Comics universe. They starred in their own eponymous short-lived comic book.-History:...
, and no small force of heavy-armed infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
as well. The next morning Alexanders plan was not to retreat, but to advance through the middle of the Illyrian forces, thereby keeping them divided and his own men united. In order to do so, he had to deceive the Illyroians and then seize the narrow passage which he had in mind, namely the Wolf's pass, confined between the river on one side and high cliffs on the other side and admitting only four men abreast at its narrowest point. Next morning the deception was achieved by a superb piece of drill. The Macedonians paraded on the flat plain
Plain
In geography, a plain is land with relatively low relief, that is flat or gently rolling. Prairies and steppes are types of plains, and the archetype for a plain is often thought of as a grassland, but plains in their natural state may also be covered in shrublands, woodland and forest, or...
, without its baggage train, put with its catapults, which led the Illyrians under Glaucias and Cleitus to expect an assault upon the walls of Pelion. The drill was executed by the phalanx
Phalanx
Phalanx, from Ancient Greek , may refer to:-Military:* Phalanx formation, in ancient Greek warfare* Phalanx CIWS, a U.S. Navy defense system to protect against an anti-ship missile-Politics:...
in a solid block of men, 100 men wide and 120 men deep, and by a squadron
Squadron
Squadron has different meanings:*Squadron , a cavalry or other unit that consists of a number of troops.*Squadron , a unit of aircraft that consists of three or four "flights", with a total of 12 to 24 aircraft, depending on aircraft type and air force.*Squadron , a unit of 3-4 major naval vessels...
of 200 cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
men on each flank. Glaucias enjoying a grandstand view from the battlements of Pelion and the surrounding heights, was amazed by the precision of the drill and bewildered by the changing movements. Suddenly Alexander formed the left front of the phalanx into a wedge(embolon) and charged Cleitus' troops on the nearest slopes. The Dardanians fled at the mere onset. Next the Macedonians using warlike threats, forced Glaucias' army to withdraw towards Pelion.
Three days later Alexander mounted a night attack. The Illyrians had assumed that he fled for good; so now the bivouacked their men over a wide area and did not build field defenses or mount guards. Learning of their dispositions the Macedonians came back at night, leading the Hypaspists, archers and Agrianians and two phalanx brigades(in all over 7,000 men). The Illyrians were devastated in which the Maceodnians who struck in a deep formation
Formation
Formation may refer to:* Formation flying, aerobatics performed with several aircraft* Formation , a high-level military organization* Tactical formation, the physical deployment of military forces-Sports:...
at the very end of the Illyrian line, killed many in their beds and started a panic which became a rout as the infantry
Infantry
Infantrymen are soldiers who are specifically trained for the role of fighting on foot to engage the enemy face to face and have historically borne the brunt of the casualties of combat in wars. As the oldest branch of combat arms, they are the backbone of armies...
line poured through the gap and rolled up the Illyrian line from east to west. Cleitus and his army under his immediate command , escaped into Pelion, but the rest suffered the thoroughness of the cavalry pursuit. It was carried to the mountains of Glaucias' State, some 95 km away. Cletius burnt Pelion in order to net let it fall into the hands of the Macedonians, and went to join Glaucias in the region of Tirana
Tirana
Tirana is the capital and the largest city of Albania. Modern Tirana was founded as an Ottoman town in 1614 by Sulejman Bargjini, a local ruler from Mullet, although the area has been continuously inhabited since antiquity. Tirana became Albania's capital city in 1920 and has a population of over...
.
Aftermath
The escape and victory of Alexander and his army brought home to the IllyriansIllyrians
The Illyrians were a group of tribes who inhabited part of the western Balkans in antiquity and the south-eastern coasts of the Italian peninsula...
, or at least to some of them' how much had changed since they had brought Macedonia to its knees barely 50 years before under the command of Bardyllis
Bardyllis
Bardyllis was a king of the Dardanian Kingdom and probably its founder.Bardyllis created one of the most powerful Illyrian states, that of the Dardanians...
. In 334 BC
334 BC
Year 334 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Caudinus and Calvinus...
a number of Illyrian infantrymen served in Alexanders expeditionary force and many more Illyrian troops were later to serve in Asia
Asia
Asia is the world's largest and most populous continent, located primarily in the eastern and northern hemispheres. It covers 8.7% of the Earth's total surface area and with approximately 3.879 billion people, it hosts 60% of the world's current human population...
. They probably went with the acquiescence of Glaucias and Cleitus. Glaucias though defeated by the Macedonians, survived for more than a generation.
Adopting Pyrrhus
In 317 BC317 BC
Year 317 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Barbula...
, six years after the death of Alexander and with power in Macedonia in the hands of the ruthless Cassander
Cassander
Cassander , King of Macedonia , was a son of Antipater, and founder of the Antipatrid dynasty...
, Glaucias offered asylum to the infant Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos or Pyrros may refer to the following figures from Greek history and mythology:* Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus, son of Achilles* Pyrrhus of Epirus , famous king, to whom the term Pyrrhic victory alludes...
after the expulsion of his father Aeacides from his kingdom among the Molossians
Molossians
The Molossians were an ancient Greek tribe that inhabited the region of Epirus since the Mycenaean era. On their northeast frontier they had the Chaonians and to their southern frontier the kingdom of the Thesprotians, to their north were the Illyrians. The Molossians were part of the League of...
. As Plutarch
Plutarch
Plutarch then named, on his becoming a Roman citizen, Lucius Mestrius Plutarchus , c. 46 – 120 AD, was a Greek historian, biographer, essayist, and Middle Platonist known primarily for his Parallel Lives and Moralia...
describes that after eluding their pursuers, they arrived in Illyria, and finding Glaucias at home with his wife, they placed the baby on the ground between their feet. Pyrrhus crawled by himself on all fours up to Glaucias and, having caught his robe, rose on his feet by holding onto the King's knees. Glaucias laughed, but then it hurt him so he sent Pyrrhus to his wife, Beroea and ordered her to raise him along with his other sons. Although Cassander promised Glaucias 200 talents, he did not hand him over.
Glaucias' wife Beroea
Beroea
Beroea is:*Veria , a city in northern Greece*a former name of Aleppo, Syria*mentioned in Thucydides, History of the Peloponnesian War; I,61,2...
was herself a Molossian princess. Pyrrhus grew to manhood safe among Glaucias and the Taulantii State, and around five years later in 307 BC, Glaucias invaded Epirus
Epirus (ancient state)
Epirus was an ancient Greek state, located in the geographical region of Epirus, in the western Balkans. The homeland of the ancient Epirotes was bordered by the Aetolian League to the south, Thessalia and Macedonia to the east and Illyrian tribes to the north...
with an army, put the anti-Cassander party in power in Molossia, and placed the twelve year old Pyrrhus on the throne with the guardians representing that party. In this way Glaucias challenged Macedonia for the second time after the Battle of Pelion in 335 BC. This was not simply a sentimental action but more an attempt to secure the existence of his own state, constantly under attack from Macedonia so therefor Glaucias needed Epirus as a n ally. In 303/2 BC Pyrrhus came to the court of Glaucias, presumably by now his adoptive father, ta attend the marriage of one of hs sons.
Tides turn
In 317 BC317 BC
Year 317 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Brutus and Barbula...
Glaucias was in league with the two Greek colonies of Epidamnus and Apollonia
Apollonia
-Places:Albania:* Apollonia, IllyriaBulgaria:* Apollonia, Thrace now SozopolFrance:* Sainte-Apollonie island, Île de Sainte-Apollonie, on the Mayenne river in the French region Pays de la LoireGreece:*Apollonia , a city on Mount Athos...
as well as with the island of Corcyrawhile Cassander was at a low ebb. In 314 BC Cassander attacked Apollonia. He captured it at the first onslaught. Advancing north and crossing the Genusus(Shkumbin
Shkumbin
Shkumbin is a river in central Albania, flowing into the Adriatic Sea. It is considered the dividing line for the two dialects of the Albanian language: Tosk and Gheg ....
) river, he defeated the army Glaucias, tricked the people of Epidamnus by making a feigned retreat and placed a garrison in the city. Glaucias was left on his throne under a treaty which required him not to attack Cassanders allies.
In 313 BC the whole arrangement collapsed. Glaucias laid siege to Apollonia in 312 BC and with the help of the Sparta
Sparta
Sparta or Lacedaemon, was a prominent city-state in ancient Greece, situated on the banks of the River Eurotas in Laconia, in south-eastern Peloponnese. It emerged as a political entity around the 10th century BC, when the invading Dorians subjugated the local, non-Dorian population. From c...
n Acrotatus, took away the Macedonian garrison. Meanwhile trouble arose in Epirus and Corcyra taking advantage of this situation, sent help Apollonia and Epidamnus, overpowered Cassander's garrison in the latter and gave the city to Glaucias. Apollonia was now free and hostile to Macedonia. Before gaining control of Epidamnus his forces were joined by the oligarchy
Oligarchy
Oligarchy is a form of power structure in which power effectively rests with an elite class distinguished by royalty, wealth, family ties, commercial, and/or military legitimacy...
of the city that had been expelled by the democrats
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and the Corcyraeans.
The date of his death is not mentioned, but it appears that he was still reigning in 302 BC, when Pyrrhus repaired to his court, to be present at the marriage of one of his sons. It is not sure if Bardyllis II and Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus
Pyrrhus or Pyrrhos or Pyrros may refer to the following figures from Greek history and mythology:* Pyrrhus or Neoptolemus, son of Achilles* Pyrrhus of Epirus , famous king, to whom the term Pyrrhic victory alludes...
both absorbed or inherited the Taulantii State after Glaucias.
See also
- Illyrian warfareIllyrian warfareThe history of Illyrian warfare spans from the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC up to the 1st century AD in the region of Illyria and in southern Italy where the Iapygian civilization flourished....
- List of rulers of Illyria
Sources
- The Illyrians By John Wilkes Page 124 ISBN 0-631-19807-5
- Who's Who in the Age of Alexander the Great by Waldemar Heckel ISBN 978-1-4051-1210-9