Queen Teuta of Illyria
Encyclopedia
Queen Teuta was an Celto-Illyria
n queen of the Ardiaean Kingdom who ruled as a regent to the young Pinnes
. The name Teuta "is linked with the Gaelic Teutates, meaning ‘people’, and the Irish-Gaelic tuath (‘the tribe’)- literally the people’s queen". Teuta inherited the strong Illyrian state from her husband, Agron. Under her command Illyrian success continued until Roman intervention. Teuta probably under pressure from Illyrian revolts, attacked Epirus
, where she captured many cities including the prosperous capital Phoenice
. The Epirotes signified their acceptance of the Illyrian victory by sending envoys to Teuta promising cooperation with them and hostility towards the Leagues.
Teuta continued her campaigns against the Greek colonies along the Illyrian coast. This led to the rupturing of trade routes to the Roman Republic. The Romans quickly felt threatened at the growing power of Teuta, thus starting the First Illyrian War. The war caught Teuta off guard. The Queen managed to annex land from the Greeks in the Ionian
but these were easily taken by the Roman which eventually crushed the Ardiaean State.
Teuta was forced to surrender and accept a crushing treaty in which he Ardiaean State lost its southern lands.
who made the Ardiaean State into a formidable power. Agron had a son named Pinnes
with his first wife, Triteuta
whom he divorced to marry Teuta. Pinnes was only a young boy when his father died in 230 BC
, and his stepmother Teuta assumed de facto control. The case of Teuta's rule brings to mind examples of women climbing to the royal throne or acting as a regent in an Illyrian state. Instead of the Liburnians
who were ruled by women only two Illyrian queens are known to have ruled in southern Illyria
, Teuta herself and the less prominent Caeria. However Teuta was faced with many inner State revolts and allowed piratical practices to settle the grievances.
n coast in check. The fleet and army attacked Elis
and Messenia
in the Peloponnese
. On the way home they called for supplies at Phoenice
, the capital of Epirus
, where a garrison of 800 Gaulish mercenaries were handed over to them. The Epirotes, who had evidently not been involved in recent events, quickly assembled an army to relieve the conquered city from Teuta's army. News that Scerdilaidas
, under Teuta's command was marching south through the pass at Antigoneia caused the Epirotes to send part of their forces north to secure that city. At Phoenice the Epirotes became careless, and during the night the Illyrians were able to leave the city, cross the river after replacing the wooden bridge which the besiegers had partly dismantled and take up a good position to offer battle. The Illyrians proceeded to win the next day. The scale of fighting now began to increase. The Epirotes had begged assistance from the Greek Leagues, while Teuta's army, having joined up with the force under Scerilaidas, marched inland to Halicranum deep in the heart of Epirus(in the plain of modern Ioannina
). Here the Illyrians were preparing to do battle with the Leagues and were choosing a good site, when orders to withdraw arrived from Teuta on the grounds that some of the Illyrians had gone over to the Dardanian State. Scerdilaidas was forced to return backwards and secure the Araeian States northern borders from the Dardanians.
However, before the Illyrians left Epirus, Teuta made a truce with the Epirotes. Phoenice was returned for a price, along with any freeborn prisoners. Slaves and the loot were put on the ships while the army under Scerdilaidas, marched north by the pass at Antigoneia. To avoid a final battle the Epirotes sent delegates to Teutaand along with the Acarnanians, they enetered into an alliance with the Illyrians, pledging to help the Illyrians from then on and to consider the Achaeans and the Aetolians as their enemies. This truce made Epirus deeply dependent on the Ardiaean State, who a the that time became one of the largest states in the Mediterranean, stretching from the Neretva
river in the north and south to the Ambracian Gulf
.
The continued success of Illyria was another shock for the Greeks, for seeing the most securely placed and powerful city of Epirus thus unexpectedly reduced to slavery, they one and all began to feel anxious, not merely as in former times for their property in open country, but for the safety of their people and cities. Teuta was delighted with the profits from the expedition.
and Appolonia in the south and the Dalmatia
n colonies in the north, most importantly was the colony of Issa. While her Illyrian ships were off the coast of Onchesmos
, they intercepted and plundered some merchant
vessels
of Rome
. Teuta's pirates extended their operations further southward into the Ionian Sea
, breaching the trade route
s between the mainland of Greece
and the Greek cities in Italy
, and were soon feared as the terror of the Adriatic
. Pheonice was the most prosperous place in Epieus, and the center for the growing commerce with Italy
. This accord catapulted the Ardiaean State into becoming the main military force in the eastern Adriatic making a clash with Rome inevitable. The Romans had been aware of the danger to the Adriatic coast of Italy from seaborne attack.
In 246 BC
a Roman colony was settled at Brundisium to keep a watch on the Ionian
gulf. During the Illyrian occupation of Phoenice, a number of Illyrian ships had engaged in privateering against Italian merchants. The Roman Senate having ignored earlier complaints, realized that something had to be done. A Roman embassy was sent to the Ardiaean State led by brothers L. and Gn. Coruncanius. On arrival they found Teuta celebrating the end of a rebellion in Illyria and engaged in laying siege to the Greek Island city Issa
, the last city which held out from Teuta's expansion. They warned Teuta that they would soon force Teuta to change the royal laws of the Illyrians. When the ambassadors complained of injuries to Romans, Teuta promised that no royal forces would harm them, however she claimed she was unable to put an end to the tradition of private enterprise. One of the ambassadors lost his temper and promised to improve relations between the sovereign and its subject, the Illyriathe queen heard this 'with womanish passion and unreasoning anger' and arranged for the insolent envoy to be murdered on his homeward journey. News of this forced the Romans to prepare for war: legions were enlisted and the fleet assembled, and there was general indignation at 'the queens violation of the law of nations'.
, which were separate to the Ardiaean State. As soon as the weather permitted, the queen had ordred south a naval expedition even larger than those of previous years, with most of the ships heading for an attack on the island of Corcyra. In the spring of 229 BC, the Illyrian fleet appeared before Durrës. A few Illyrian sailors entered the city gates on the pretext of seeking water, hiding their swords inside the amphorae they had with them. According to Polybius
, they killed the guards and opened the gates for the other Illyrian warriors. Only an immediate alarm and a fast counterattack from the citizens of Durrës saved the independence of the city.
These ships now joined the main Illyrian force in the siege of Corcyra. The Coryraeans, along with Appolonia and Durrës, sought assistance from the Leagues of Greece. The Illyrian fleet clashed with ten Achaean ships reinforced by seven warships of the Acarnanians, off the island of Paxos
south of Corcyra. Polybius reports that the Illyrians then attacked, with their ships tied together four by four, and clashed with their enemies. The two opponents battled so violently that the enemy's ships could hardly move, becoming entangled among the bows of the Illyrian ships that were tied together. Then the Illyrians jumped into the bridges of the Achaeans ships and overpowered the Achaeans, whom were outnumbered. The Illyrians under Teuta took four triremes and sank a quinquereme, while the rest of the Greeks managed to escape. After this new maritime stratagem, the Illyrians conquered Corcyra and established a garrison there under the command of one of Teuta's philoi, Demetrius of Pharos
. The main Illyrian force sailed north for another attack on Durrës. Teuta's Illyrians were now on the point of controlling all the coastline north of the Gulf of Corinth
, including the sea routes to Sicily
and Italy via Corcyra.
The Roman invasion of Illyria in 229 BC
appears to have caught Teuta and the Illyrias completely off guard. The fall of Corcyra precipitated events. The Roman consul Gn. Fulvius had planned to sail his 200 ships to Corcyra to raise the siege. Even when he learned the island had surrendered he still sailed there, having already entered secret negotiations with Demetrius, who had fallen out of favor with Teuta. Demetrius had been slandered by Teuta and feared her. Thus, Corcyra welcomed the Romans and, with the compliance of Demtrius, surrendered the garrison. The city became friendly to Rome and would henceforward rely on Roman
protection from the Illyrians. Demetrius now served as adviser to the Roman commanders for the rest of the war.
Meanwhile the consul A. Postumius brought an army of 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 200 ships across from Brindisium to Appollonia, which had joined the Roman alliance. The fleet under Fulvius reached Appolonia and the two forces advanced in the direction of Durrës, causing Teuta's forces to abandon the siege and disperse. The city entered into Roman protection as well and the army continued inland among the Illyrians of the hinterland. Here the Romans received delegations from other Illyrians, including the Atintani and the Parthini, from whom a formal surrender was accepted. At sea the blockade of Issa was raised and the city also was received into Roman protection. As the Romans approached the Ardiaean State heartlands there was more resolute opposition. The fleet moved northwards and attacked Illyrian coastal cities, at one of which, the unidentified Noutria, Roman losses included a magistrate of the Republic and some military tribunes, and 20 ships laden with plunder were intercepted. The besiegers of Issa fled to the city of Arbo, and Teuta herself retreated to Rhizon in the Gulf of Kotor. Hostilities ceased as the Romans decided that enough had been achieved. The Romans handed over Issa to Demetius, the place of his birth. The greater part of the Roman army returned to Rome, having assembled forty ships and some troops from the allies in the area the other consul remained across the Adriatic. This was done in order to keep a watch on the Illyrians and the Peoples under Roman protection.
Teuta finally surrendered in 228 BC
, having to accept an ignominious peace. Before the end of winter, envoys of Teuta appeared in Rome
and a treaty was concluded. The Romans allowed her to continue her reign but restricted her to a narrow region around the capital Scodra or Rhizon, and deprived her of all her other holdings just south of the capital. They also required her to pay an annual tribute and to acknowledge the final authority of Rome. Teuta also promised not to sail south of Lissus at the mouth of the Drin
with more than two ships, even then unarmed vessels. The terms of the settlement were conveyed to the League in Greece, where they were well received.
in northern Albania). The Illyrians were forced to give up all their recent conquests south of the river Drin
The lands south of this border were taken away from the Ardiaean Sate and constituted a Roman protectorate of four autonomous parts: Appolonia, Durrës, Parthini and Atintani. Simultaneously, it served to create a separation or barrier between Illyria and its Balkans allies, Macedonia and Epirus. The Illyrians were thus cut off from the inland route to Macedonia, their patron and ally against the Greek Leagues.
Teuta was succeeded by Demetrius of Pharos
who became king of the Ardiaean State, violated the previous treaty and ultimately started the Second Illyrian War.
and free will
against her persecutors. Teuta is depicted on the reverse
of the Albanian 100 lekë
coin, issued in 2000.
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
n queen of the Ardiaean Kingdom who ruled as a regent to the young Pinnes
Pinnes
Pinnes was the son of Agron, king of the Ardiaei in Illyria, and Agron's first wife Triteuta. He officially succeeded his father as king in 230 BC, but the Ardiaean kingdom was ruled by Agron's second wife, Queen Teuta.Pinnes was only a young boy when his father died in 230 BC, and his stepmother...
. The name Teuta "is linked with the Gaelic Teutates, meaning ‘people’, and the Irish-Gaelic tuath (‘the tribe’)- literally the people’s queen". Teuta inherited the strong Illyrian state from her husband, Agron. Under her command Illyrian success continued until Roman intervention. Teuta probably under pressure from Illyrian revolts, attacked 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...
, where she captured many cities including the prosperous capital Phoenice
Phoenice
Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. It was also the location of the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, as well as one of the wealthiest cities in Epirus until the Roman conquest. During the early Byzantine period, Phoenice...
. The Epirotes signified their acceptance of the Illyrian victory by sending envoys to Teuta promising cooperation with them and hostility towards the Leagues.
Teuta continued her campaigns against the Greek colonies along the Illyrian coast. This led to the rupturing of trade routes to the Roman Republic. The Romans quickly felt threatened at the growing power of Teuta, thus starting the First Illyrian War. The war caught Teuta off guard. The Queen managed to annex land from the Greeks in the Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
but these were easily taken by the Roman which eventually crushed the Ardiaean State.
Teuta was forced to surrender and accept a crushing treaty in which he Ardiaean State lost its southern lands.
Early life
The year of Teuta's birth is not known. Teuta was married to AgronAgron (king)
Agron was the greatest king of the Ardiaean Kingdom. The son of Pleuratus, Agron brought about a great revival among the Illyrians; during his reign, the Ardiaean State was not only the most powerful Illyrian state of the time, but also one of the greatest in the Balkans. He succeeded in extending...
who made the Ardiaean State into a formidable power. Agron had a son named Pinnes
Pinnes
Pinnes was the son of Agron, king of the Ardiaei in Illyria, and Agron's first wife Triteuta. He officially succeeded his father as king in 230 BC, but the Ardiaean kingdom was ruled by Agron's second wife, Queen Teuta.Pinnes was only a young boy when his father died in 230 BC, and his stepmother...
with his first wife, Triteuta
Triteuta
Triteuta was an Illyrian queen of the Adraeian State.Trieteuta was the first wife of Agron. With Agron, Triteuta had a son named Pinnes in 230 BC. Agron divorced Triteuta and married Teuta...
whom he divorced to marry Teuta. Pinnes was only a young boy when his father died in 230 BC
230 BC
Year 230 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Barbula and Pera...
, and his stepmother Teuta assumed de facto control. The case of Teuta's rule brings to mind examples of women climbing to the royal throne or acting as a regent in an Illyrian state. Instead of the Liburnians
Liburnians
The Liburnians were an ancient Illyrian tribe inhabiting the district called Liburnia, a coastal region of the northeastern Adriatic between the rivers Arsia and Titius in what is now Croatia....
who were ruled by women only two Illyrian queens are known to have ruled in southern Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
, Teuta herself and the less prominent Caeria. However Teuta was faced with many inner State revolts and allowed piratical practices to settle the grievances.
Annexation of Epirus
Illyrian success continued when command passed to Agron's widow Teuta in 230 BC, who granted individual ships a licence to universal plunder. Her first action was to attack the Greek States. Teuta sent her navy to keep the AetoliaAetolia
Aetolia is a mountainous region of Greece on the north coast of the Gulf of Corinth, forming the eastern part of the modern prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania.-Geography:...
n coast in check. The fleet and army attacked Elis
Elis
Elis, or Eleia is an ancient district that corresponds with the modern Elis peripheral unit...
and Messenia
Messenia
Messenia is a regional unit in the southwestern part of the Peloponnese region, one of 13 regions into which Greece has been divided by the Kallikratis plan, implemented 1 January 2011...
in the Peloponnese
Peloponnese
The Peloponnese, Peloponnesos or Peloponnesus , is a large peninsula , located in a region of southern Greece, forming the part of the country south of the Gulf of Corinth...
. On the way home they called for supplies at Phoenice
Phoenice
Phoenice or Phoenike was an ancient Greek city in Epirus and capital of the Chaonians. It was also the location of the Treaty of Phoenice which ended the First Macedonian War, as well as one of the wealthiest cities in Epirus until the Roman conquest. During the early Byzantine period, Phoenice...
, the capital 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...
, where a garrison of 800 Gaulish mercenaries were handed over to them. The Epirotes, who had evidently not been involved in recent events, quickly assembled an army to relieve the conquered city from Teuta's army. News that Scerdilaidas
Scerdilaidas
Scerdilaidas was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom. Before taking the throne Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a major role in the Illyrian Wars against the Romans....
, under Teuta's command was marching south through the pass at Antigoneia caused the Epirotes to send part of their forces north to secure that city. At Phoenice the Epirotes became careless, and during the night the Illyrians were able to leave the city, cross the river after replacing the wooden bridge which the besiegers had partly dismantled and take up a good position to offer battle. The Illyrians proceeded to win the next day. The scale of fighting now began to increase. The Epirotes had begged assistance from the Greek Leagues, while Teuta's army, having joined up with the force under Scerilaidas, marched inland to Halicranum deep in the heart of Epirus(in the plain of modern Ioannina
Ioannina
Ioannina , often called Jannena within Greece, is the largest city of Epirus, north-western Greece, with a population of 70,203 . It lies at an elevation of approximately 500 meters above sea level, on the western shore of lake Pamvotis . It is located within the Ioannina municipality, and is the...
). Here the Illyrians were preparing to do battle with the Leagues and were choosing a good site, when orders to withdraw arrived from Teuta on the grounds that some of the Illyrians had gone over to the Dardanian State. Scerdilaidas was forced to return backwards and secure the Araeian States northern borders from the Dardanians.
However, before the Illyrians left Epirus, Teuta made a truce with the Epirotes. Phoenice was returned for a price, along with any freeborn prisoners. Slaves and the loot were put on the ships while the army under Scerdilaidas, marched north by the pass at Antigoneia. To avoid a final battle the Epirotes sent delegates to Teutaand along with the Acarnanians, they enetered into an alliance with the Illyrians, pledging to help the Illyrians from then on and to consider the Achaeans and the Aetolians as their enemies. This truce made Epirus deeply dependent on the Ardiaean State, who a the that time became one of the largest states in the Mediterranean, stretching from the Neretva
Neretva
Neretva is the largest river of the eastern part of the Adriatic basin. It has been harnessed and controlled to a large extent by four HE power-plants with large dams and their storage lakes, but it is still recognized for its natural beauty, diversity of its landscape and visual...
river in the north and south to the Ambracian Gulf
Ambracian Gulf
The Ambracian Gulf, also known as the Gulf of Arta or the Gulf of Actium, and in some official documents as the Amvrakikos Gulf , is a gulf of the Ionian Sea in northwestern Greece. About long and wide, it is one of the largest enclosed gulfs in Greece...
.
The continued success of Illyria was another shock for the Greeks, for seeing the most securely placed and powerful city of Epirus thus unexpectedly reduced to slavery, they one and all began to feel anxious, not merely as in former times for their property in open country, but for the safety of their people and cities. Teuta was delighted with the profits from the expedition.
Piratical practices
When Teuta came to the throne, she was met with much uneasiness among the local tribes. To deal with these revolts, she allowed Illyrian ships to plunder Greek and Roman ships. This could have also been a motive to attack Epirus in the first place. After the threat from the Dardanians was avoided, Teuta continued here expansion campaigns by attempting to conquer the Greek Colonies in Illyeria. These included DurrësDurrës
Durrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
and Appolonia in the south and the Dalmatia
Dalmatia
Dalmatia is a historical region on the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea. It stretches from the island of Rab in the northwest to the Bay of Kotor in the southeast. The hinterland, the Dalmatian Zagora, ranges from fifty kilometers in width in the north to just a few kilometers in the south....
n colonies in the north, most importantly was the colony of Issa. While her Illyrian ships were off the coast of Onchesmos
Sarandë
Sarandë or Saranda is the capital of the District of Sarandë, Albania, and is one of the most important tourist attractions of the Albanian Riviera. It is situated on an open sea gulf of the Ionian Sea in the Mediterranean 2 nautical miles from the Greek island of Corfu. The city of Saranda has a...
, they intercepted and plundered some merchant
Merchant
A merchant is a businessperson who trades in commodities that were produced by others, in order to earn a profit.Merchants can be one of two types:# A wholesale merchant operates in the chain between producer and retail merchant...
vessels
Watercraft
A watercraft is a vessel or craft designed to move across or through water. The name is derived from the term "craft" which was used to describe all types of water going vessels...
of Rome
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
. Teuta's pirates extended their operations further southward into the Ionian Sea
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
, breaching the trade route
Trade route
A trade route is a logistical network identified as a series of pathways and stoppages used for the commercial transport of cargo. Allowing goods to reach distant markets, a single trade route contains long distance arteries which may further be connected to several smaller networks of commercial...
s between the mainland of Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
and the Greek cities in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and were soon feared as the terror of the Adriatic
Adriatic Sea
The Adriatic Sea is a body of water separating the Italian Peninsula from the Balkan peninsula, and the system of the Apennine Mountains from that of the Dinaric Alps and adjacent ranges...
. Pheonice was the most prosperous place in Epieus, and the center for the growing commerce with Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. This accord catapulted the Ardiaean State into becoming the main military force in the eastern Adriatic making a clash with Rome inevitable. The Romans had been aware of the danger to the Adriatic coast of Italy from seaborne attack.
In 246 BC
246 BC
Year 246 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Crassus and Licinus...
a Roman colony was settled at Brundisium to keep a watch on the Ionian
Ionian Sea
The Ionian Sea , is an arm of the Mediterranean Sea, south of the Adriatic Sea. It is bounded by southern Italy including Calabria, Sicily and the Salento peninsula to the west, southern Albania to the north, and a large number of Greek islands, including Corfu, Zante, Kephalonia, Ithaka, and...
gulf. During the Illyrian occupation of Phoenice, a number of Illyrian ships had engaged in privateering against Italian merchants. The Roman Senate having ignored earlier complaints, realized that something had to be done. A Roman embassy was sent to the Ardiaean State led by brothers L. and Gn. Coruncanius. On arrival they found Teuta celebrating the end of a rebellion in Illyria and engaged in laying siege to the Greek Island city Issa
Issa
Issa or ISSA may refer to:Issa*Abdisalam Issa-Salwe, Somali scholar*Darrell Issa, a Californian Representative*List of The Belgariad and The Malloreon characters#Issa, a divine character in David Eddings's fantasy series The Belgariad and The Malloreon*Issa or Isa, the Arabic name for Jesus in...
, the last city which held out from Teuta's expansion. They warned Teuta that they would soon force Teuta to change the royal laws of the Illyrians. When the ambassadors complained of injuries to Romans, Teuta promised that no royal forces would harm them, however she claimed she was unable to put an end to the tradition of private enterprise. One of the ambassadors lost his temper and promised to improve relations between the sovereign and its subject, the Illyriathe queen heard this 'with womanish passion and unreasoning anger' and arranged for the insolent envoy to be murdered on his homeward journey. News of this forced the Romans to prepare for war: legions were enlisted and the fleet assembled, and there was general indignation at 'the queens violation of the law of nations'.
Naval expeditions
The queen knew that the war would primarily be waged at sea, so she ordered the building of more war ships and secured the coast around Durrës and Appolonia in modern day AlbaniaAlbania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
, which were separate to the Ardiaean State. As soon as the weather permitted, the queen had ordred south a naval expedition even larger than those of previous years, with most of the ships heading for an attack on the island of Corcyra. In the spring of 229 BC, the Illyrian fleet appeared before Durrës. A few Illyrian sailors entered the city gates on the pretext of seeking water, hiding their swords inside the amphorae they had with them. According to Polybius
Polybius
Polybius , Greek ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece...
, they killed the guards and opened the gates for the other Illyrian warriors. Only an immediate alarm and a fast counterattack from the citizens of Durrës saved the independence of the city.
These ships now joined the main Illyrian force in the siege of Corcyra. The Coryraeans, along with Appolonia and Durrës, sought assistance from the Leagues of Greece. The Illyrian fleet clashed with ten Achaean ships reinforced by seven warships of the Acarnanians, off the island of Paxos
Paxos
Paxos may refer to:* Paxos algorithm, an algorithm for fault tolerant distributed systems* Paxoi, a Greek island...
south of Corcyra. Polybius reports that the Illyrians then attacked, with their ships tied together four by four, and clashed with their enemies. The two opponents battled so violently that the enemy's ships could hardly move, becoming entangled among the bows of the Illyrian ships that were tied together. Then the Illyrians jumped into the bridges of the Achaeans ships and overpowered the Achaeans, whom were outnumbered. The Illyrians under Teuta took four triremes and sank a quinquereme, while the rest of the Greeks managed to escape. After this new maritime stratagem, the Illyrians conquered Corcyra and established a garrison there under the command of one of Teuta's philoi, Demetrius of Pharos
Demetrius of Pharos
Demetrius of Pharos was a ruler of Pharos involved in the First Illyrian War, after which he ruled a portion of the Illyrian Adriatic coast on behalf of the Romans, as a Client king....
. The main Illyrian force sailed north for another attack on Durrës. Teuta's Illyrians were now on the point of controlling all the coastline north of the Gulf of Corinth
Gulf of Corinth
The Gulf of Corinth or the Corinthian Gulf is a deep inlet of the Ionian Sea separating the Peloponnese from western mainland Greece...
, including the sea routes to Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
and Italy via Corcyra.
First Illyrian War
229 BC
Year 229 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Albinus and Centumalus...
appears to have caught Teuta and the Illyrias completely off guard. The fall of Corcyra precipitated events. The Roman consul Gn. Fulvius had planned to sail his 200 ships to Corcyra to raise the siege. Even when he learned the island had surrendered he still sailed there, having already entered secret negotiations with Demetrius, who had fallen out of favor with Teuta. Demetrius had been slandered by Teuta and feared her. Thus, Corcyra welcomed the Romans and, with the compliance of Demtrius, surrendered the garrison. The city became friendly to Rome and would henceforward rely on Roman
Roman Republic
The Roman Republic was the period of the ancient Roman civilization where the government operated as a republic. It began with the overthrow of the Roman monarchy, traditionally dated around 508 BC, and its replacement by a government headed by two consuls, elected annually by the citizens and...
protection from the Illyrians. Demetrius now served as adviser to the Roman commanders for the rest of the war.
Meanwhile the consul A. Postumius brought an army of 20,000 infantry, 2,000 cavalry and 200 ships across from Brindisium to Appollonia, which had joined the Roman alliance. The fleet under Fulvius reached Appolonia and the two forces advanced in the direction of Durrës, causing Teuta's forces to abandon the siege and disperse. The city entered into Roman protection as well and the army continued inland among the Illyrians of the hinterland. Here the Romans received delegations from other Illyrians, including the Atintani and the Parthini, from whom a formal surrender was accepted. At sea the blockade of Issa was raised and the city also was received into Roman protection. As the Romans approached the Ardiaean State heartlands there was more resolute opposition. The fleet moved northwards and attacked Illyrian coastal cities, at one of which, the unidentified Noutria, Roman losses included a magistrate of the Republic and some military tribunes, and 20 ships laden with plunder were intercepted. The besiegers of Issa fled to the city of Arbo, and Teuta herself retreated to Rhizon in the Gulf of Kotor. Hostilities ceased as the Romans decided that enough had been achieved. The Romans handed over Issa to Demetius, the place of his birth. The greater part of the Roman army returned to Rome, having assembled forty ships and some troops from the allies in the area the other consul remained across the Adriatic. This was done in order to keep a watch on the Illyrians and the Peoples under Roman protection.
Teuta finally surrendered in 228 BC
228 BC
Year 228 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ruga and Verrucosus...
, having to accept an ignominious peace. Before the end of winter, envoys of Teuta appeared in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
and a treaty was concluded. The Romans allowed her to continue her reign but restricted her to a narrow region around the capital Scodra or Rhizon, and deprived her of all her other holdings just south of the capital. They also required her to pay an annual tribute and to acknowledge the final authority of Rome. Teuta also promised not to sail south of Lissus at the mouth of the Drin
Drin
Drin may refer to:*Geographical term:**In Albania, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia:***Drin , in Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia...
with more than two ships, even then unarmed vessels. The terms of the settlement were conveyed to the League in Greece, where they were well received.
Aftermath
Appolonia, Durrës and in the interior, the Illyrian koina of the Atintaini and the Parthini came under the Roman protection. This marked a crushing setback for the Ardiaean State. The Roman Senate pushed the borders of the state back to the north of the river Ardaxan (present day MatMat
A mat is a generic term for a piece of fabric or flat material, generally placed on a floor or other flat surface, and serving a range of purposes including:* providing a regular or flat surface, such as a mousepad....
in northern Albania). The Illyrians were forced to give up all their recent conquests south of the river Drin
Drin
Drin may refer to:*Geographical term:**In Albania, Kosovo, Republic of Macedonia, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia:***Drin , in Albania, Kosovo and the Republic of Macedonia...
The lands south of this border were taken away from the Ardiaean Sate and constituted a Roman protectorate of four autonomous parts: Appolonia, Durrës, Parthini and Atintani. Simultaneously, it served to create a separation or barrier between Illyria and its Balkans allies, Macedonia and Epirus. The Illyrians were thus cut off from the inland route to Macedonia, their patron and ally against the Greek Leagues.
Teuta was succeeded by Demetrius of Pharos
Demetrius of Pharos
Demetrius of Pharos was a ruler of Pharos involved in the First Illyrian War, after which he ruled a portion of the Illyrian Adriatic coast on behalf of the Romans, as a Client king....
who became king of the Ardiaean State, violated the previous treaty and ultimately started the Second Illyrian War.
Legacy
Today, her actions are regarded as somewhat heroic in historical annals of today's Balkan region. Despite her ongoing acts of piracy, she is revered for her resistanceResistance movement
A resistance movement is a group or collection of individual groups, dedicated to opposing an invader in an occupied country or the government of a sovereign state. It may seek to achieve its objects through either the use of nonviolent resistance or the use of armed force...
and free will
Free will
"To make my own decisions whether I am successful or not due to uncontrollable forces" -Troy MorrisonA pragmatic definition of free willFree will is the ability of agents to make choices free from certain kinds of constraints. The existence of free will and its exact nature and definition have long...
against her persecutors. Teuta is depicted on the reverse
Obverse and reverse
Obverse and its opposite, reverse, refer to the two flat faces of coins and some other two-sided objects, including paper money, flags , seals, medals, drawings, old master prints and other works of art, and printed fabrics. In this usage, obverse means the front face of the object and reverse...
of the Albanian 100 lekë
Albanian lek
The lek is the official currency of Albania. It is subdivided into 100 qindarka , although qindarka are no longer issued.-Names:...
coin, issued in 2000.
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
- Corcyra
- DurrësDurrësDurrës is the second largest city of Albania located on the central Albanian coast, about west of the capital Tirana. It is one of the most ancient and economically important cities of Albania. Durres is situated at one of the narrower points of the Adriatic Sea, opposite the Italian ports of Bari...
- Illyrian WarsIllyrian WarsIllyrian Wars were a set of conflicts of 229 BC, 219 BC and 168 BC when Rome overran the Illyrian settlements and suppressed the piracy that had made the Adriatic unsafe for Italian commerce. There were three campaigns, the first against Teuta, the second against Demetrius of Pharos and the third...