Albania – Greek Diaspora History
The Ancient Illyrians
The Ancient Illyrians
The ancient Illyrians were a group of Indo-European tribes, who would come to form a kingdom. In Greek mythology, Illyrius was the son of Cadmus and Harmonia, who eventually ruled Illyria and became the founder of the Illyrian people.
Most historians believe that Albanians are descendants of the ancient Illyrians. This is reinforced by the fact that the name Albania is derived from the name of an ancient Illyrian tribe named Arber, later referred to as Albanoi.
The Ancient Illyrian Kingdom
The first recorded ancient Illyrian Kingdom was ruled by the Enchele tribe in the 8th century BC. The ancient Illyrian Kingdoms only ruled over small areas within the region of Illyria. Bordering to the south with the ancient Greek kingdoms of Epirus and Macedon, the ancient Illyrians encountered the Greeks early on.
Similar to their neighbouring Greek kingdoms, the ancient Illyrians consisted of war like tribes. They continued to engage in battles with the ancient Macedonians and Epirotes in a struggle to become the dominant power in the region. Despite their conflicts, the ancient Illyrians and Greeks also engaged in trade and commerce with one another.
The ancient Greeks even founded colonies in Illyria, predominantly for trade purposes. Some of the most influential Greek colonies in Illyria were:
- Epidamnos (present day Durrës), founded at the end of the 627 BC
- Apollonia (between present day Durrës and Vlorë), founded in 588 BC
- Avlona (present day Vlorë), founded in the 6th century BC
- Byllis (north-east of present day Vlorë), founding period undetermined
There were many more Greek colonies established in ancient Illyria, predominantly in present day Croatia. These colonies formed the first wave of Greek diaspora in present day Albania and in the Balkans.
Influences from Greek kingdoms and colonies in the region led to the ancient Illyrian kingdom adopting similar political and societal structures as the Greeks.
The Ancient Illyrian Kingdom during the Hellenistic Period
The first known king of the ancient Illyrian Kingdom was Bardylis, who reigned between 393-358 B.C. Under the reign of Bardylis, the ancient Illyrian Kingdom became a formidable power in the region. The ancient Greek kingdom of Macedonia however, was also growing in power during this period under the reign of Philip II. In 358 B.C., Philip defeated the Illyrians and gained control of their territory as far as Lake Ohrid.
In 335 B.C., Philip’s son, Alexander the Great, defeated the Illyrians led by Clitus. As was the case with many of Alexander’s victories, he incorporated soldiers from his opponents into the Greek army. After the death of Alexander, the Illyrians regained control of part of their region and established Glaucius as king of Illyria.
In 317 B.C., Aeacides was dethroned from the ancient Greek kingdom of Epirus and sought refuge in Illyria. King Glaucius granted the Epirote king and his family asylum in Illyria. Aeacides’ son, Pyrrhus was only two at the time and was raised by Glaucius’ Greek wife Beroea.
Pyrrhus would later be restored to the thrown of Epirus and become known as the most famous of Epirote rulers, making him one of the greatest Greek generals to have ever lived. The term pyrrhic victory would become attributed to him, and thus he will go down as the most well-known member of the Greek diaspora in ancient Illyria (present day Albania).
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