Illyria and the Queen Teuta

The Queen Teuta of Illyria

The reign of Queen Teuta dates between 231 and 228 BCE. The reign period is very short, and it was her decisions determined that her reign will end the good position of her people in the Adriatic Sea. After her husband Agron died in 231 BCE, Teuta was appointed to govern until her stepson Pineo was of legal age.

The situation of the Illyrian people at that time was very advantageous on the Adriatic coast. The kingdom built by King Agron went from Dalmatia, north of Vjosë, to the south, with Skodra as its capital. IIlyria came of years better, but with the reign of Agrón, could make an important hole right next to an expanding Rome.

The Illyrian people were known for their brave warriors, their taste for drinking and for honoring the art of piracy, which was what they did that would clash with the interests of Rome. The chronicles of the time are very scarce, serving only writings of Polibio and few Roman notes, like source of information. These contributions often have a great deal of invention on the part of the sources, who at times used to invent the parts that they could not know firsthand. This view that could have Polybius or even the Roman historian Apian of Alexandria, are never objective, and his vision of the reality of the time did not have to be the reality that was passing that town.

What if we are sure, is that Rome collided with Iliria for their piracy activities. Its naval force was one of the most important in the Adriatic. The raids of the pirates in areas controlled by Rome, or in allied cities, forced it to send an embassy to Iliria.

Queen Teuta was not at all satisfied with the demands of the Roman envoys, who demanded the cessation of piracy in their related territories. Rome did not offer Teuta any compensation to compensate for the cessation of these hostile actions. For the Illyrians it was unthinkable to leave the so prestigious for them, business of piracy, and the options that left them Rome were unacceptable. This was what infuriated Teuta, who committed an error always punished by Rome, assassin to one of the ambassadors. This was more than enough for Rome to declare war on anyone. This time was not going to be an exception for the Romans, who declared war on Teuta in 229 BC.

 

Teuta's Mistake

The murder and defilement of the Roman ambassadors were an unacceptable act. Teuta did not know how to manage his position, nor that of his people, in that historical moment. The Illyrian forces were no match for Rome, the end of a war, could only lead to disappearance as a sovereign state.

First Illyrian War

The Roman fleet, the largest fleet mobilized by them on the Adriatic, consisted of 200 ships. In the year 229 a.C. Marched against the island of Corfu, administered by Demetrio de Faros, who gave the control without offering resistance. The Romans offered Demetrio territories after the overthrow of Teuta. Rome had dismantled one of the most important ports of Iliria without finding resistance, that was a masterpiece. The Romans attacked Apolonia with a combined attack of naval and terrestrial troops, its advance was unstoppable. Soon they took the capital Shkodra. In the year 227 a.C. The Queen capitulated and had to sign a very unfavorable treaty. This capitulation left the queen in the same position, but with a territory that only surrounded Shkodra, and now was guarded from Rome.

Ruins: Discover the palace of Queen Teuta of Iliria in Montenegro

The Illyrian monarchy ended in 18 BC. With the rebellion of the southern tribes, who established a republic and were called Dalmatians. In 12 BC. Dalmatia was also subjected to Rome.

 

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