Illyrian Federation

The **Illyrian Federation** (329- CE), was a federational kingdom, at first located in OTL modern-day Montenegro, and later in all of Illyria. It was founded by the Ardiaei, at that time, the most prominent Illyrian people.

## History

### Background

*Main article: Ardiaei*

The Ardiaei were an Illyrian people who resided in the territory of OTL present-day Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia between the Adriatic coast on the south, Konjic on the north, along the Neretva river and its right bank on the west, and extending to Lake Shkodra to the southeast. From the 3rd century BCE to 250 CE, the capital cities of the Ardiaean State were Rhizon and Scodra.

The Ardiaean kingdom was transformed into a formidable power—both on land and sea—under the leadership of Agron of Illyria (r. 250-231 BCE). During this time, Agron invaded parts of Epirus, Corcyra, Epidamnos and Pharos in succession, establishing garrisons there. The Ardiaean realm became one of Dardania's major enemies, an Illyrian rival kingdom to its east, and the primary threat to Macedon in the Adriatic Sea.

#### Wars with Greeks and Dardani (188-92 BCE)

During Macedon's invasion of Carthaginian south-eastern Italy, under Philip V, from 188-187 BCE, the Ardieai invaded Epirus, and so the already defeated Macedonians dismantled any reason for the Greeks to stay in Italy, and aborted their campaign to defeat the Illyrians by 186 BCE.

Always being under the menace of Dardanian attacks on Macedonia, Philip V made an alliance with the Bastarnae at around 183 BCE and invited them to settle in Polog, the region of Dardania closest to Macedonia. A joint campaign of the Bastarnae and Macedonians against the Dardanians was organized, but Philip V died, and his son Perseus withdrew his forces from the campaign. The Bastarnae crossed the Danube in huge numbers, and although they didn't meet the Macedonians, they continued the campaign. Some 30,000 Bastarnae under the command of Clondicus seem to have defeated the Dardani. In 179 BCE, the Bastarnae conquered the Dardani, who later in 174 pushed them out, in a war which proved catastrophic, with a few years later, in 170 BCE, the Macedonians defeating the Dardani.

Another Macedonian attempt to invade Italy during the Carthaginian Civil War, in 162 BCE, was only short-lived, as Philip V died in 158 BCE, and the Ardiaei used this instability for another invasion, effectively driving the Greeks, together with the Carthaginians, out of the Adriatic Sea once again.

To pacify their northern frontier and naval threats in the Adriatic Sea, the Macedonians, under Alexander VI (r. 135-100 BCE), attempted to invade the Ardiaei and Dardani from 131-128 BCE during the First Illyrian War. However, the Dardani joined the war as allies of the Ardiaei and defeated the Greeks.

The Greek defeat followed increased raids and incursions from both the Ardiaei and Dardani, notably from 124-122 BCE, and from 116-115 BCE.

During the next decades, the Ardiaei increasingly attempted to unify the Illyrian tribes, by asking the neighboring tribes for alliances. Only the Dalmatae accepted, but on a non-aggression pact, not a unification, as they feared the Ardiaei becoming too powerful. The Dardani, a former ally against Macedon, even refused on a non-aggression pact, and thus, tensions increased.

However, with their north secured, the Ardiaei could concentrate on defeating their main rival, the Dardani, to their east. Thus, in 96 BCE, they attacked their rival, during the Dardani War (96-92 BCE). However, as both sides defeated each in battles other multiple times, no faction could achieve dominance, and the war ended in a stalemate.

#### Pontic and Carthaginian Partitioning (86 BCE-74 BCE)

In 84 BCE, constant naval raids from the Ardiaei, caught the attention of Pontic king, Mithridates VI the Great, who now ruled over Greece after defeating the Macedonians two years earlier. Even though the Dardani often raided the Macedonian region, Mithridates had to give in, if he wanted to succeed with his plans, and began seeking an alliance with the Dardani, under king \*Bardylis, against the Ardiaei and promised to split their territory, in two equal pieces, with the condition that Pontos gains the full coast, to "pacify the sea". The Dardani, seeing this as a chance to finally beat their rival, and to gain the alliance of a powerful Empire at the same time, accepted and together conquered the Ardiaei during the Ardiaeic War (84-82 BCE).

Shortly after, Mithridates conquered the region of Moesia, during the Moesian War (81-80 BCE), establishing the Morava River as the border between Pontos and Dardania.

However, the Carthaginian Empire, took note of this expansion, and demanded that if Pontos were to build ships in the Adriatic Sea, a war would be inevitable. Mithridates was not ready for such a war yet, and obeyed. Only one year later, tensions increased, when the Phoenician suffete, \*Adherbal, assisted the Liburni against an invasion from the Dalmatians. Carthaginian soldiers were poured into the region, and the Liburni essentially became a vassal state.

From 80-78 BCE, Mithridates conquered the Dindari and Daesitiates, while \*Adherbal assimilated the Dalmatians into vassal states. Numerous skirmishes followed between the two clashing empires, however, no full scale war. The Phoenicians proceeded to invade the Iapydes and Histri, securing their north. To establish a land bridge, in 76 BCE, \*Adherbal annexed the Veneti, and established a client state, during the Venetic War (76-74 BCE).

Meanwhile, in 76 BCE, after realizing that he did not need his ally anymore, Mithridates assassinated the Dardani king, \*Bardylis, and had placed one of his generals, \*Ariston, on the throne. A civil war broke out in the region, that lasted for two years, but was eventually crushed.

During the next decades, a Cold War between the two Empires, mainly over Illyria, began, which was ended by Carthage during the Cretan War (55-54 BCE).

#### Illyrian War (44-40 BCE)

In 44 BCE, King Burebista of Dacia died, and his kingdom began to collapse. After this, the Iazyges began to take possession of the Pannonian Basin, the land between the Danube and Tisa rivers in OTL modern-day south-central Hungary. The Iazyges had allied with Pontos during the Macedonian War (88-86 BCE), and were encouraged by Pontic king \*Pharnaces II, to continue their migration into the Carthaginian vassal kingdoms of Dalmatia, Iapydos and Liburnia, followed by a Pontic charge into the region. The Phoenicians were completely overwhelmed, though managed to hold onto the region for another 3 years, before being driven out, and pushed behind the Kolapis River (OTL Kupa River) by the intense pressure of the combined Pontic and Iazygid forces in 40 BCE.

Meanwhile, the Iazyges were resettled around Lake Balaton to keep Illyria stable, defeating the Boii and pushing them eastwards, behind the Danube.

#### Dalmatian War (16-14 BCE)

In 16 BCE, the new Pontic king, Darius I, followed a new policy of disbanding vassal states in the Pontic Empire, and replacing them with less autonomous provinces, to achieve more control under a direct rule. However, this decision was greatly unpopular, as numerous vassal kings rebelled, especially in Illyria and Greece. The greatest of all revolts was led by the native Dalmatian vassal king, \*Balaios, who completely ravaged Illyria, reaching as far as Macedonia. However, two tribes refused to support \*Balaios rebellion, namely the Liburni and Iapydes, who were bribed by the Pontic authorities, even pirating and plundering the Dalmatians.

Shortly after, an envoy was sent to Carthage, stating that if they assisted the Dalmatians in gaining independence from Pontos, the Phoenicians would be allowed to conquer the Liburnian and Iapydian coast, without considerable resistance from the natives, as occupation under Carthage would grant the kingdoms far more autonomy than direct rule under Pontos, as well as protecting the region from the Iazyges.

The Phoenicians accepted the offer and began capturing the Liburnian and Iapydian coast in 15 BCE, reestablishing vassal states. In return, the Carthaginians sent 30,000 men, under general \*Carthalo as assistance for \*Balaios against Pontos. After defeating the Greeks at the Battle of Salona (14 BCE), Darius withdrew from Dalmatia, which achieved full independence, and began cooperating with the Phoenicians, for example, in trading.

#### Daesitiate War (3-1 BCE)

In 3 BCE, Illyrian forces of the Daesitiates rebelled, with Bato the Daesitiate as their leader. To their south-west, the independent Dalmati, under a king named \*Astius, supported the rebellion with 20,000 soldiers. These two armies united in the autumn of 2 BCE, and the two kings became war-leaders of an allied rebel army against Pontic authority in Illyria. The Pontic king, Darius I attempted to outflank the 60,000 Illyrian troops, commanded by Bato, at the Battle of Arduba (1 BCE), with a force of 50,000 men. However, he was ambushed in the process, and the Greek army was completely annihilated, forcing Darius to abandon the Daesitiate region, where he retreated behind the Dreinos River (OTL Drina River).

conquers all of illyria

ardieai and daesitiate (Bato the Daesitiate) rise up and split illyria into 3: Ardiaei, Daesitiate and Dardania

Dalmatae rebel and form kingdom, then Dalmatae empire, conquers Ardiaei and Daesitiate (ignores dardania)

#### Gothic Conquest (250 CE)

Both the Ardiaei and Dardani were conquered, and vassalized, during the Gothic invasions, under king Cniva, in 250 CE.

#### Intervention in the Great Mediterranean War and Independence (322-329 CE)

In 322 CE, the interest of Etruscan king \*Larth Vulca slowly shifted to the east, into the Illyrian kingdoms. Hostilities between the Illyrians and Goths were used as a tool for Rasenna, to offer an alliance, if they adopted Teutarism. The Illyrians accepted. During the next years, the three kingdoms raided and pirated Gothic and even Carthaginian trading ships, as well as harbors.