Social order and political organization

Social order and political organization
Since the early Hellenistic colonies settled Illyrian coast ancient ways of production . In the division of society into distinct role played colonies social and ethnic origin of people . In conditions was privileged aristocratic backgrounds layers , which have often been supportive of the establishment of colonies . Social composition of the layers was varied free . Besides the exiles , for political reasons during the wars of the aristocracy in metropolitan demos , had impoverished noble , craftsmen stripped of the means of production , dispossessed peasants , merchants and sailors . This measure of population increased continuously as a result of the frequent invasions of the metropolis . In Dyrrah a large contingent of such people came in the second half of shek.V.



In Dyrrah of the Apollo layers constitute the main force of slave labor. It was divided into three categories: the city - state bond slave , who worked in the workshops of tiles and bricks , in breaking , transportation and skalitjen of stones in metal cutting in currencies , ie more jobs severe . Many slaves were private comprising the second category , who also served in addition ergasterive households .
A part of the population , always growing , constituted "foreigners " , the third category or residents of Illyrian origin . Those in the first decades were deprived of social and political rights .
In accordance with the social composition of the population , the political order in Apollo had Dyrrah early oligarchic character . Power belonged to an aristocratic minority backgrounds . The vast majority of the population , and the Illyrians , making no word for slaves , did not enjoy the right to rule the city .
The rapid economic development and Apolonia Dyrrachion shek.VI - V associated with changes in social and political order of the two colonies , as a result of a fierce social and political . With the expansion of craft production and exchange of goods with the Illyrians and Greece , were enriched and strengthened economically layers of craft trade colonies . These layers now emerged as an independent force in the political arena against oligarchic group , with the aim to take power and to use it to benefit their interests . Consequently , in 437 Dyrrah an uprising broke out in the demos , known in ancient history for the role he played on the eve of the Peloponnesian War . In the arena of war except demos forces and aristocracy , the match seemed Korkyrës interests , behind which stood Athens and Corinth . Both powers sought to benefit a wider Illyrian market . Also in this match also actively participated neighboring Illyrians , who are helping aristocrats expelled from the city , was ranked the forces that përkahnin Athens in the Peloponnesian war against connectivity .
The sequence leading civil war in Dyrrah was complete triumph of the principle of separation of class society , the strengthening of the polis slave . Power now exceeds the limited circle of aristocratic slave in the hands of all the slave as a class . Its social base was expanded with the participation of broader layers , slave owners workshops , dealers etc. . , Thus highlighting the most ancient mode of production . Since that time grew stronger social position of the Illyrians who lived in the city . Such a phenomenon similar to the Apollo was held .
These changes were reflected in the composition and state functions . Place the heads ( fylarkëve ) Aristocrats , in whose hands that power concentrated in the oligarchic regime , now took a collegial body , bull (the council ) . Its members can not only were the nobles , but also from other layers slave . Created the general body meeting of the people , helieja . Its main tasks were the enactment of laws , making important decisions and the choice of controlling the activities of the executive bodies of the city . With the participation of all free people , this body was in the hands of the slave , without whose presence helieja had no right to choose the highest executive bodies of the city . By members of the bud at the top of prytani elected each year , which was the highest civilian official of the city . With his name linked to all laws , ordinances promulgated important decisions during the year . In matters related to military and defense toksarku fight deal , which was commander of archery . Secretary of rain to the main task of caring for instilling the stone or copper plates on the laws , decrees and decisions of higher helieja or executive bodies and to announce them publicly . The three hieramnamonët , dealing not only with religious issues , the organization of games of the holiday , but apparently the city's financial issues . In addition there were other employees, to a lower rank , but actually play an important role in economic life . Such was the officer in charge of cutting the coins , which had the task of caring for the provision of raw materials , as well as cutting and distribution of coins . Over the silver Drachma placed his name alongside that of prytanit . One other officer was poleti dealing with the regulation of commerce with the Illyrians .
Religious cult was in harmony with the social and political institutions of the city . It also appears from merging with state religious functions ( hieramnamonët ) . The most venerated deities were Apollo Apollo , who gave the name of the city , Goddess of the Illyrian coast of the colonists were unjisua with Artemis ; Dionizi was Hyu the vineyards etc. . The main gods , who prayed more dyrrahasit were Zeus , the legendary co-founder of Sun City and Heracles .
Hellenic colonies settled in Illyria in the narrow circumstances of economic relations with the Illyrians , who depended on mutual interests . Further Strengthening colonies coincides with the birth of Illyrian cities and formation of the Illyrian state . Among these colonies will find a basis for support in their complete liberation from economic and political metropolis . There were also conflicts between the Illyrians and colonies , apparently as a result of misuse of the colonists in relations between the Illyrians and their limits . These took the form of armed struggle with the city Illyrian Apollonia Thronion around mid- fifth century and the Illyrians in the fight against the 385 Pesona Isa .
Since the second half of the century . IV Pesona history of Hellenistic colonies coast of Illyria developed in close relationship with the political history of the Illyrian state and its framework .

Origins of the Albanian

The origins of the Albanian people, as was mentioned before, are not definitely known, but data drawn from history and from linguistic, archaeological, and anthropological studies have led to the conclusion that Albanians are the direct descendants of the ancient Illyrians and that the latter were natives of the lands they inhabited. Similarly, the Albanian language derives from the language of the Illyrians, the transition from Illyrian to Albanian apparently occurring between the 4th and 6th centuries AD.
Illyrian culture is believed to have evolved from the Stone Age and to have manifested itself in the territory of Albania towardthe beginning of the Bronze Age, about 2000 BC. The Illyrians were not a uniform body of people but a conglomeration of many tribes that inhabited the western part of the Balkans, from what is now Slovenia in the northwest to and including the region of Epirus, which extends about halfway down the mainland of modern Greece. In general, Illyrians in the highlands of Albania were more isolated than those in the lowlands, and their culture evolved more slowly--a distinction that persisted throughout Albania's history.


In its beginning, the kingdom of Illyria comprised the actual territories of Dalmatia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, with a large part of modern Serbia. Shkodra (Scutari) was its capital, just as it is now, the most important center of Northern Albania.
The earliest known king of Illyria was Hyllus (The Star) who is recorded to have died in the year 1225 B.C. The Kingdom, however, reached its zenith in the fourth century B.C. when Bardhylus (White Star), one of the most prominent of the Illyrian kings, united under scepter the kingdoms of Illyria, Molossia (Epirus*) and a good part of Macedonia. But its decay began under the same ruler as a result of the attacks made on it by Philip of Macedon, father of Alexander the Great.


In the year 232 B.C. the Illyrian throne was occupied by Teuta, the celebrated Queen whom historians have called Catherine the Great of Illyria. The depredations of her thriving navy on the rising commercial development of the Republic forced the Roman Senate to declare war against the Queen. A huge army and navy under the command of of Santumalus and Alvinus attacked Central Albania, and, after two years of protracted warfare, Teuta was induced for peace (227 B.C.)
The last king of Illyria was Gentius, of pathetic memory. In 165 B.C. he was defeated by the Romans and brought to Rome as a captive.
Henceforth, Illyria consisting of the Enkalayes, the Taulantes, the Epirotes, and the Ardianes, became a Roman dependency. She was carved out into three independent republics the capitals of which were respectively Scodar (Shkoder), Epidamnus (Durres) and Dulcigno (todays' Ulqin in Montenegro).
Authors of antiquity relate that the Illyrians were a sociable and hospitable people, renowned for their daring and bravery at war. Illyrian women were fairly equal in status to the men, even to the point of becoming heads of tribal federations. In matters of religion, Illyrians were pagans who believed in an afterlife and buried their dead along with arms and various articles intended for personal use. The land of Illyria was rich in minerals--iron, copper, gold, silver--and Illyrians became skillful in the mining and processing of metals. They were highly skilled boat builders and sailors as well; indeed, their light, swift galleys known as liburnae were of such superior design that the Romans incorporated them into their own fleet as a type of warship called the Liburnian.

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Strengthening of royal power

In 302 Pesona Glaukia was still at the top of the Illyrian state . Thereafter he noted . The period that follows is quite obscure and known only through fragmented resources , but ever more important .

About the year 295 as king of the Illyrians Pesona Bar-dhyl new note . The circumstances in which he found at the top of the Illyrian state and its relations with Glaukinë , which replaced , are unclear . A marriage of Bar-dhyl ally is Pyrrhic . Plutarch says that after the death of his first wife , Antigone , Pyrrhus " married many women , for political reasons and to increase his power ." One of them was the Brikena , Bar-dhyl daughter of the king of the Illyrians . Roman historian and writer Justin century Roman . The report Frontini turn a Pyrrhic campaign against the Illyrians , in which he had emerged victorious and he conquered the city that was the capital of their own , without telling us his name . Greek historian of the century . Appian II also echoes the story , saying that he had a part Pyrrhus over the Ionian coast of Illyria . All these sources do not specify , however , how far the king's rule spanned molos on Illyrian lands and how did he raise the yard Glaukisë intervened forcefully in his state. After all these events lies a domestic quarrel between heirs or pretenders to the throne of Glaukisë , which was used by Pyrrhus . But it is not excluded by the terms of the new Bar-dhyl which have been an offshoot of The Bar-dhyl , which comes into force with the help of Pyrrhus , releasing the latter part of the Illyrian Kingdom . Only thus can explain how Pyrrhus became master of the western provinces Illyrian kingdom , perhaps even of Apollonia , and Bar-dhyl left Lyhnid eastern provinces around the lake , or in its west .

But the land Illyrian invasion of Pyrrhus and the Bar-dhyl new rule as " king of the free" on the part of the Illyrian state should not have gone too far. Appian passage that says that these inherited land and descendants of Pyrrhus is inconsistent with the development of subsequent events . Internal strife to inherit the throne of Glaukisë seem to overcome quickly . In the book's prologue XXIV Latin historian Trogut it comes to " fight to the Kerouni Ptolemy (king of Macedonia ) became the Illyrian Monunin and Ptolemy , the son of Lysimahut " . The news that belongs to a 280 year event Pesona about a ruler who intervenes in disputes Illyrian to the Macedonian throne as an ally of another contender , son of Lysimahut . Ordering the Trogut , Monuni is the first opponent Keraunit and can also assume the initiator of this war . However this should be Monun ruler of a country whose borders meet with Macedonia .

The assumption that he was a king dardan , today is leaving the country devalued opinion that in this case we are dealing with a ruler Illyrian state . Figure and its activity becomes clearer through a Dyrrachion currency . This is a tridrahme , which bears the symbols of the previous known tridrahmes autonomous Dyrrachion , the site has a drink cow 's calf , spine in a square filled with linear ornamentation , unlike the first one of the new currency has a weight small ( 10.3 to 10.5 gr . instead of 10.4 to 11.5 g . ) and in legend ? ? ? ? ? or ? ? ? is the name of the king ( ? ? S ? ? ? SO ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ) and a pork jowl on the cow , missing the old tridrahmat . In another variant currencies Monunit legend deprived city cut and replaced with a spear . These tridrahme are dating right after the 300 Pesona and matching as mentioned Monunin time of Trogut .

Notice Trogut and cutting the currency despite evidence that he had suffered shock after the death of the Illyrian state intervention Glaukisë by Pyrrhus , Monuni could have rimëkëmbte his country in the territory of the former , from the Adriatic coast to the border of Macedonia . Apparently , he benefited from the departure of Pyrrhus to Italy to restore its state occupied lands . His power had grown over Dyrrahu . Putting up the coins workshop , he deepened over its predecessor relationship with this city . The latest version Monunit logging shows that the Illyrian King must have felt himself strong enough removed from the name of the currency Dyrrachion cut . It is not known how were his relations with Apollonia , but there is no reason to consider different . Even the city should have known the full sovereignty of the Illyrian king , subject Dyrrah him as politically and economically .

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Monunit successor and the last of the dynasty was Glaukisë Mytili . Even as literary tradition to have only a short notice in the prologue of the book XXV Trogut stating that " ... His son / pyrrhic / , Alexander had to fight Mytilin Illyrian " . A bronze coin cut in the workshop and it fully confirms Dyrrachion historical nature Mytilit person . This coin , which has the head of Herakles symbols on the page and characteristic of the hero weapons ( bow and sheath mëzdragun ) in the back , differs from its prototype , because instead of civil monetary Dyrrachion the initials of the king on Mytil ( ? ? S ? ? ? SO ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ) , which additionally removed from the legend of the city's coins . Self currency these data indicate that the Dyrrachion Mytili was neat and exercised over this city is the power that his predecessor had Monuni . Currency is extremely rare , indicating that his rule was short .

War between Mytilit and Alexander , for which he was referring Trogu , belongs to the year 270 Pesona . Unfortunately not store any accurate information on the causes and outcomes of this war , which has also given rise to various assumptions . Thinking that it ended in favor of Alexander and that this was again master of the Illyrian provinces south of the state , even Apolonia refers Frontini and Appian . A careful examination of their reports indicates that these findings are not entirely fair. It is true that Frontini , which meets Trogun , speaks of a match in which Alexander defeated the Illyrians , but fighting takes place in the land of Epirus and the news does not appear that he even possessed any part of the Illyrian state lands . As for notification of Appian , he has more general character and neither this nor any other author does not present evidence that Apollonia has been under the rule of a king Epirote

Kingdom Of Two Illyrians. Dynasty Glaukia

Illyrian state recovery
Very soon after reconciled northern neighbors , Greece , Macedonia headed east leaving smooth Illyrian state . Neighborly relations with Macedonia it was no longer a serious threat and Illyrians tried to exploit the situation for the recovery of their country . Rufi announces new unrest in Illyria , but it seems that they did not succeed , because Pesona in 323 , when the division was Alexander's empire , a part of the Illyrians was still under the rule of Antipatrit , who became king of Macedonia , Greece , Illyria , Epirus and the other occupied populations in the Balkans .
Turbulent situation that arose in the empire after Alexander's death and disintegration of his empire created suitable conditions for the liberation of Eastern Illyrian lands . Connecting with the enemies of Macedonia , Glaukia king of Taulants managed to deliver these lands and unite with his kingdom . It seems that after he took the title " king of the Illyrians " instead of the previous title " King of Taulants " .
Once the merger had restored the Illyrian lands and Illyrian state , tried to weaken Glaukia Macedonian influence in Epirus . For this purpose , he approached the king of Molossoi , Ajakidin Berojën and married a daughter of the royal molos door . In this policy he encountered Antipatrit son , Cassander , who after much effort was put in charge of Macedonia . In Pesona 317 , Cassander ousted from the throne molos Glaukisë ally , Ajakidin , who had intervened in internal wrangling Macedonian throne , taking Olimbisë side , Alexander's mother . At this time Glaukia got under protection and kept in his palace to overthrow the king's son , Pyrrhus two years . Despite the insistent demands of Cassander , Glaukia not delivered Pirro , he did not do this either when the Macedonian king promised a reward of 200 large amount of talent , even when it 's threatened by war .

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The extension of sovereignty over the Apollonia Dyrrahu
Three years after this event , in 314 , Cassander , starting from the mainland , attacked by sea Apollonia , Dyrrachium and then went into Illyria . In this war Glaukia Cassander was defeated and became master of the two big cities of the Adriatic . Political unrest forced to return to Greece after leaving strong garrisons here . A year later, 313 Pesona , surrounded Glaukia Apollonia , but without success . According Diodorit , he brokered the Spartans refused to lift the siege and conclude a peace treaty with apoloniatët . Conditions are not known peace or that it was to establish a Macedonian force in the city , but subsequent events , of 312 Pesona , show that the two cities were protected by Macedonian garrisons . In this year apoloniatët and dyrrahasit rebelled and expelled the forces of Cassander from their cities . A special role in this event attributes Diodori korkyrasve , who had come to help. According to him they " liberated Apollonia and Dyrrachium Glaukisë handed , king of the Illyrians " . Sources did not give a direct answer to questions why they gave korkyrasit Dyrrahu Illyrians , who was Illyrians role in this event , which had been their reports and ç'raporte Dyrrahu settled with Apollonia .

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 However it is not difficult to understand korkyrasit in this case acted as allies not only apoloniatëve and dyrrahasve , but the Illyrians . The emergence of Macedonia on the Adriatic coast threaten economic and political interests of the state as Illyrian , as well as Dyrrachion , Apollonia and Korkyrës , so they joined against Macedonian risk . Two major cities were , apparently , to maintain relations with the state Illyrian old and did not want to obey the King of Macedonia violence . Dyrrah appear before this had been in the hands of the Illyrians or had known Illyrian king's sovereignty . The challenge made ​​apoloniatët Glaukisë Pesona 313 indicates a temporary dominance in this city promaqedon group , which was later overturned by the uprising of citizens expelled forces of Cassander .
Macedonian king speedily come with his forces before the walls of Apollonia again to restore the previous state . Diodori asserts that " apoloniatët were associated with the Illyrians ." However , it is not known whether this was simply a military alliance or something more , but implied that the Illyrians were given a first-hand role since the forces defending the city were " larger" than Macedonian . Cassander was badly broken and was forced to retire , having lost a good part of the army . His efforts to be stuck in the coastal Illyria after he failed and no longer tried to return to these parts .
Wars with Cassander show that the Illyrian state power had grown so much that it could be successfully measured with possession of Macedonia Adriatic coast . Major cities of the coast had long recognized the sovereignty of the Illyrian king , at least on Dyrrahu was decided that sovereignty , but since the 312 Pesona impact on Apollonia should not have been smaller , although the legal status of the city Illyrian state to formally may have been a little different from the Dyrrachion .




After the victory over Cassander and strengthening its position in Dyrrah of the Apollo , Glaukia dealt with the preparation of the expedition that would come to the throne molos Pirro . It was his generosity towards , or had connections with him through his wife , Berojës , daughter of molos door , pushed those Glaukinë in this brave venture . Mainland at this time was the most neuralgic point of contact and the most important link in Illyrian- Macedonian contradictions . Glaukia had to abandon the country from the impact Macedonian and Illyrian state to restore lost ally . For this purpose , in Pesona 309 , on top of a large army , he went to Epirus and beating opposition group that represented the king promaqedon Alketa ( Pyrrhic uncle ) , placed on top of the 12 - year-old state molos Pirro . With this act, the Macedonian conflict was resolved in favor of the Illyrians . Political and military activity Glaukisë for recovery of strengthening the position of the Illyrian state was crowned with success .
During the reign of Glaukisë , state Illyrian lived glory days , he became a powerful state , including the cities within its Dyrrah of Apollo . He was the only serious force that opposes Macedonia in the Balkans , and became an important factor that exerted a powerful influence on political events of the time.