Dalmatae

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Representing the tribes of Illyria proper, the **Dalmatae** are the only playable Illyric faction in the Invasion Sandbox of the Eagle King DLC. It is a naval invader, with various possible starting locations in the Adriatic Sea.

The Dalmatae don't currently occur in any other game modes.

### In-game Description

"The Dalmatae are an Illyrian tribe located on the Adriatic coast just south of the Liburni. They are best known for their aggressive raiding of neighbours and constant piracy along the Adriatic, though they are also noted shepherds whose name likely comes from an Illyrian word for "sheep"."

### Possible Starting Locations

* In the northern corner of the Adriatic Sea, between the Po Valley, Venetia, and Histria.
* Off the coast of Picenum, near Auximum and Misa.
* Off the coast of Samnium and Iapygia, near Larinum and Vieste.
* Off the coast of northern Iapygia, near Barium, Canusion and Sipous.

### Starting Brigades

When composing your starting army, the Dalmatae have 18 points to spend, with the following options available:

In addition, you will receive 2 groups of Colonists, a Light Warship and as many Small Transport Ships as are needed to carry every brigade.

The default loadout consists of 2 Skirmishers, 2 Peltasts and 12 points to spare.

You will be given 2000 gold to start.

### Historic Starting Generals

When playing this faction in a sandbox setting, the player may choose to start with one of the following pre-defined historic generals instead of a generic one. These characters usually have far better bonuses than can be obtained with the generic starting generals.

 Armatus

### Strategy

The starting positions of AI factions in the Invasion Sandbox are slightly random, as factions will have randomly conquered an amount of cities from one another depending on the world age setting. However, you will be more likely to encounter friendly Illyric factions near your northenmost or southernmost possible starting positions, than at the central parts of Italy's Adriatic coastline.

Plan your playstyle while composing your starting army. Do not waste your starting points on Heavy Warships if you're going to more or less immediately make landfall. They are only worthwhile if planning to settle an area far away from your starting location, or when thinking of a naval raiding playstyle (for which the Dalmatae's faction bonuses are well-suited).

### Trivia & History

* The Dalmatae are the only in-game faction of the Illyric faction group to definitely represent a poperly Illyric people. The Veneti and possibly the Histri were of a distinct ethnicity and language and were probably more closely related to the Latins and Sabellians than to the Illyrians (though they probably received substantial Illyric and later Gallic cultural influences). The Messapii, Peuceti and Dauni in the south (collectively known as the Iapyges) were a distinct ethnolinguistic entity as well, though they may have been distant cousins of the Illyrians who migrated across the Adriatic around 1000 BC, where they then received Greek and Sabellic influences.
* The Dalmatae are not recorded as having historically attempted a large-scale invasion or migration into Italy, making their inclusion in the Invasion Sandbox a bit of alternate history. They were probably included for the sake of diversifying the roster of playable factions and having an Illyric faction in the mix. However, smaller raids and naval attacks by the Illyrians in general against coastal Italy were of course common.
* The Dalmatae first entered conflict with Rome in the 150s BC and would become the most determined enemy of Rome in Illyria from then on, revolting against Rome several times until their final destruction in 9 AD.
* Their faction icon depicts a bow and a club, which is a reference to the Greek hero Herakles who was famous for using this exact combination of weapons. The design is taken from ancient coins found in Dalmatia.