Editing Illyria (section)

===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]].