Editing Illyria (section)

==History==

The [[Prehistory of Southeastern Europe|prehistory]] of Illyria and the [[Illyrians]] is known from archaeological evidence. The [[Roman Republic|Romans]] conquered the region in 168 BC in the aftermath of the [[Illyrian Wars]].

===Kingdoms===
{{Main|Illyrian kingdom|Dardanian Kingdom|List of rulers of Illyria}}

The earliest recorded Illyrian kingdom was that of the [[Enchele]] in the 8th century BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Stipčević|2002|pages=46–47}}.</ref> The era in which we observe other Illyrian kingdoms begins approximately at 400 BC and ends at 167 BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=298}}.</ref> The Autariatae under [[Pleurias]] (337 BC) were considered to have been a kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Lewis|Boardman|1994|p=785}}.</ref> The Kingdom of the [[Ardiaei]] began at 230 BC and ended at 167 BC.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1969|p=13}}.</ref> The most notable Illyrian kingdoms and dynasties were those of [[Bardyllis]] of the [[Dardani]] and of [[Agron of Illyria|Agron]] of the [[Ardiaei]] who created the last and best-known Illyrian kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Kipfer|2000|p=251}}.</ref> Agron ruled over the Ardiaei and had extended his rule to other tribes as well.<ref>{{harvnb|Hammond|1993|p=104}}.</ref> As for the Dardanians, they always had separate domains from the rest of the [[Illyrians]].<ref>{{harvnb|Papazoglu|1978|p=216}}.</ref>

The Illyrian kingdoms were composed of small areas within the region of Illyria. Only the [[Ancient Rome|Romans]] ruled the entire region. The internal organization of the south Illyrian kingdoms points to imitation of their neighbouring Greek kingdoms and influence from the Greek and [[Hellenistic]] world in the growth of their [[urban area|urban]] centres.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=237}}.</ref> [[Polybius]] gives as an image of society within an Illyrian kingdom as peasant infantry fought under aristocrats which he calls in Greek ''Polydynastae'' (Greek: Πολυδυνάστες) where each one controlled a town within the kingdom.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=127}}.</ref> The monarchy was established on hereditary lines and Illyrian rulers used marriages as a means of alliance with other powers.<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=167}}.</ref> [[Pliny the Elder|Pliny]] (23–79 AD) writes that the people that formed the nucleus of the Illyrian kingdom were 'Illyrians proper' or [[Illyrii proprie dicti]].<ref>{{harvnb|Wilkes|1995|p=216}}.</ref> They were the [[Taulantii]], the [[Pleraei]], the [[Endirudini]], [[Sasaei]], [[Grabaei]] and the [[Labeatae]]. These later joined to form the [[Docleatae]].

===Roman and Byzantine rule===
{{Main|Illyricum (Roman province)|Praetorian prefecture of Illyricum}}The Romans defeated [[Gentius]], the last king of Illyria, at [[Scodra]] (in present-day Albania) in 168 BC and captured him, bringing him to Rome in 165 BC. Four client-republics were set up, which were in fact ruled by Rome. Later, the region was directly governed by Rome and organized as a [[Roman province|province]], with Scodra as its capital.

The Roman province of ''Illyricum'' replaced the formerly independent kingdom of Illyria. It stretched from the [[Drin River|Drilon]] river in modern [[Albania]] to [[Istria]] ([[Croatia]]) in the west and to the [[Sava]] river ([[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]) in the north. [[Salona]] (near modern [[Split (city)|Split]] in Croatia) functioned as its capital.

After subduing a troublesome [[Great Illyrian Revolt|revolt]] of [[Pannonians]] and [[Daesitiates]], Roman administrators dissolved the province of Illyricum and divided its lands between the new provinces of [[Pannonia]] in the north and [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|Dalmatia]] in the south. Although this division occurred in 10 AD, the term ''Illyria'' remained in use in [[Late Latin]] and throughout the [[Middle Ages|medieval]] period. After the [[division of the Roman Empire]], the [[bishops of Thessalonica]] appointed papal vicars for Illyricum. The first of these vicars is said to have been Bishop [[Acholius]] or Ascholius (died 383 or 384), the friend of [[St. Basil]]. In the 5th century, the bishops of Illyria withdrew from communion with Rome, without attaching themselves to [[Constantinople]], and remained for a time independent, but in 515, forty Illyrian bishops renewed their loyalty to Rome by declaring allegiance to [[Pope Hormisdas]]. The patriarchs of Constantinople succeeded in bringing Illyria under their jurisdiction in the 8th century.<ref name="Catholic Encyclopedia">{{harvnb|Lins|1910|loc="Illyria"}}.</ref>