Illyrian invasion of Epirus explained

Conflict:Illyrian invasion of Epirus
Date:385 BC
Place:Epirus, Macedonia
Result:Initial Illyrian victory over the Molossians and Macedonians.[1] Later Illyrian defeat[2]
Combatant1:Illyrians
Combatant2:Molossians, Macedonians
Combatant1a:Supported by:
Syracusans
Combatant2a:Supported by:
Thessalians
Spartans
Commander1:Illyrian king Bardylis[3] [4]
Dionysius I
Alcetas I
Commander2:Pro-Spartan Molossian dynast
Agesilaus II
Alexander II
Philip II
Perdicas III
Strength1:Unknown
Strength2:unknown
Casualties1:Unknown
Casualties2:15,000 Molossians[5] 4,000[6] -10,000[7] Macedonians

The Illyrians started an invasion against the Molossians in Epirus during 385 BC who later started another war against the Macedonians. The Illyrians, led by king Bardylis, were supported by Dionysius I of Syracuse who was aiming to expand his influence in the eastern Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, and by Alcetas I of Epirus who was expelled from his land by the Molossian pro-Spartan party and exiled in Syracuse.[8] The Illyrians, after invading the Molossians, invaded the Macedonians, making them close to collapse.[9]

History

In 385 BC, Alcetas of Epirus was a refugee in Syracuse for unknown reasons. The tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius, wanted a friendly monarch in Epirus, so he sent vast number of hoplites and 500 suits of armour to help the Illyrians, who at that time were led by king Bardyllis, for their battles with the Molossians in Epirus[10] . Attackers killed about 15,000 Molossian warriors. Alcetas was restored to the throne, but the Illyrians didn't stop there. Dionysius joined them in an attempt to plunder the temple of Delphi. Then, Sparta, supported by Thessaly and Macedonians, intervened under Agesilaus, and expelled the Illyrians and the Syracusan warriors out of some parts of Epirus.[11]

See also

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Book: The Macedonian Empire: the era of warfare under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. . 2004 . Jefferson, N.C. McFarland . 112 .
  2. Book: Macedonia and Greece in late classical and early Hellenistic times . 1982 . Washington (D.C.). National Gallery of Art . 83 .
  3. Book: The Illyrians, J. Wilkes . 1996 . Wiley-Blackwell . 120 .
  4. Book: The Macedonian Empire: the era of warfare under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. . 2004 . Jefferson, N.C. McFarland . 5, 17, 112 .
  5. Book: Luttenberger . Mark . Philip II of Macedon: A New Age Begins . 2019 . Page Publishing . 41 .
  6. Book: The Macedonian Empire: the era of warfare under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. . 2004 . Jefferson, N.C. McFarland . 5 .
  7. Book: A history of Macedonia. Vol.3, 336-167 B.C . 1988 . Oxford University Press . 411 .
  8. ; ; .
  9. Book: The Macedonian Empire: the era of warfare under Philip II and Alexander the Great, 359-323 B.C. . 2004 . Jefferson, N.C. McFarland . 112 .
  10. Book: Macedonia, 4000 years of Greek history and civilization . 1983 . Athens, Greece: Ekdotike Athenon . 77 .
  11. Web site: Fifteenth book. Diodorus. Siculus.