Ardiaei
The Ardiaei were an Illyrian people residing on territory of present-day Albania, Kosovo, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia between Adriatic coast on the south, Konjic on the north, along the Neretva river and its right bank on the west, extending to Lake Shkodra to the southeast. From the 3rd century BC to 168 BC the capital cities of the Ardiaean State were Rhizon and Scodra. The Ardiaean kingdom was transformed into a formidable power—both by land and sea—under the leadership of Agron. During this time, Agron invaded part of Epirus, Corcyra, Epidamnos and Pharos in  succession, establishing garrisons in them. The Ardiaean realm became one of Rome's major enemies, and the primary threat in the Adriatic Sea. A series of wars were fought between the Roman Republic and the Illyrian (Ardiaean-Labaeatan) kingdom in the 3rd–2nd centuries BC. Polybius (203 BC–120 BC) writes that they were subdued by the Romans at events that occurred at 229 BC. The Epitome of Livy reports that Roman consul Fulvius Flaccus put down an uprising in 135 BC undertaken by Ardiaei and Pleraei in Roman Illyria. In earlier times the Ardiaei were enemies of the Autariatae for a  long period over salt source. Appian (95–165) writes that the Ardiaei were destroyed by the Autariatae and that in contrast to the Autariatae they had maritime power. Etymology. The "Ardiaei" are attested since the 3rd century BC. They often appears in ancient accounts describing the Illyrian Wars and Macedonian Wars. Their name was written in Ancient Greek as Ἀρδιαῖοι, "Ardiaioi", or Οὐαρδαῖοι, "Ouardaioi", and in Latin as "Vardiaei" or "Vardaei". The tribal name "Ardiaei" may be related to the Latin "ardea" meaning "heron", a symbol of animal totemism. Location. Accounts in ancient sources create much confusion about the original location  of the Ardiaei. Up to the 4th century BC the Ardiaei were not a coastal people as they were described by later Roman historiography from the mid-3rd century BC and onwards. Their inland location in older times can be inferred by the cause of war between them and the Autariatae – a long-running conflict over the possession of salt sources near their common border. If they had lived in the Adriatic coastal area, they would not have had such a pronounced need to undertake a dangerous war because of the mountain salt springs. The arrival of the Ardiaei on the  coast must have occurred at some time after the mid-4th century BC, as the "Periplus" of Pseudo-Skylax dating back to that time does not mention this Illyrian tribe at all. In that time the lower course of the Naro river was inhabited by the Manioi, while the middle course was likely inhabited by the Ardiaei. The territory of the Ardiaei and Autariatae must have met somewhere along the upper Naro valley, near the 'Great Lake', which was attested in the "Periplus" and has been identified with Hutovo Blato. The Autariatae most likely inhabited the other side of the lake . During the 2nd century BC the Manioi disappeared from historical sources, being replaced in some of their former regions by the Ardiaei and Daorsi, while some of the earlier Autariatan territories were inhabited by the Narensii. Their tribal name indicates that Narensii certainly inhabited some of the areas along the Naron river, and that they probably appeared in historical sources after the disintegration of the coalition that was dominated by the Autariatae. In the 3rd century BC, the Ardiaei took on political importance and conquered territories from the Autariatae until they acquired control of the entire Adriatic coast from the  region of the Daorsi at the mouth of the Naro river down to that of the Labeatae around Lake Scodra. It is possible that at that time their capital was in Rhizon in present-day Montenegro. In Roman times the Ardiaei were attested in the area of southern Illyria that was centered around the Bay of Kotor, with Rhizon as a capital city, expanding from the Naro river in present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina and Croatia, along the Adriatic coast southwards to Scodra (another capital of the Illyrian kingdom) in present-day Albania, as well as to the broad region  of Lissus. History. Due to widespread piracy perpetrated in the Adriatic by the Ardiaei and other Illyrian tribes, the Romans campaigned against them in the events of the Illyrian Wars. They were viewed as heavy drinkers in comparison, by the Greeks. In earlier times the Ardiaei were enemies of the Autariatae for a long period over salt source. The Ardiaei had briefly attained military might, during 230 B.C. under the reign of king Agron (an Ardiaean by tribal origin). His widow, Queen Teuta attempted to gain a foothold in the Adriatic but failed due to Roman intervention. Historic accounts hold  that King Agron was hired by king Demetrius of Macedonia to repel the invasion of Macedonia by the invading Aetolians. The Ardiaei had 20 decuriae. The ancient geographer, Strabo, lists the Ardiaei as one of the three strongest Illyrian peoples – the other two being the Autariatae and the Dardani. Strabo writes; King Agron, son of Pleuratus who belonged to the ruling house of the Ardiaei, disposed of the most powerful force, both by land and sea, of any of the kings which had reigned in Illyria before him. Ardiaean dynasty. The following list reports the members of the Ardiaean dynasty  documented as such in ancient sources: The branch of Scerdilaidas, and his successors Pleuratus III and Gentius, is generally considered a Labeatan dynasty, that emerged after the fall of Agron and Teuta in the First Roman–Illyrian War. Indeed, the Illyrian king Gentius is also attested as reigning among the Labeatae.