List of ancient tribes in Illyria


This is a list of ancient tribes in the ancient territory of Illyria. The name Illyrians seems to be the name of a single Illyrian tribe that was the first to come into contact with the ancient Greeks, causing the name Illyrians to be applied to all people of similar language and customs. The locations of Illyrian tribes/peoples prior to the Roman conquest are approximate, as sometimes many wholly different locations are given by ancient writers and modern authors.
After the Great Illyrian Revolt, the Romans deported, split, and resettled Illyrian tribes within Illyria itself and to Dacia, sometimes causing whole tribes to vanish and new ones to be formed from their remains, such as the Deraemestae and the Docleatae, some of them mixed with Celtic tribes. Many tribal names are known from Roman civitates and the number of their decuriae, formed of the dispersed tribes in Illyria.

Tribes

Illyrian

Albani

Albani or Albanoi were an Illyrian tribe whose first historical account appears in a work of Ptolemy. They were the citizens of Albanopolis, located in the center of modern Albania, in the Zgërdhesh hill fort, near the city of Krujë. The national ethnonym of the Albanians is derived from this tribe.

Ardiaei

Ardiaei or Ouardaioi was an Illyrian tribe, residing inland, that eventually settled on the Adriatic coast. The Ardiaei had 20 decuriae. The Ardiaean dynasty ruled over the Illyrian Kingdom.

Autariatae

Autariatae or Autariates was an Illyrian tribe that became prominent between the 6th and 4th centuries BC. The tribe had been Celticized.

Balaites

The Balaites were an Illyrian tribe known from epigraphical findings only who were organizing themselves in a koinon, and it is likely that they lived in the vicinity of Apollonia.

Bathiatae

Bathiatae was an Illyrian tribe.

Bylliones

Bylliones was an Illyrian tribe. They were affected by a partial cultural Hellenisation. According to Robert Elsie, the tribe was Illyrian.

Cavii

Cavii was an Illyrian tribe. They lived close to Lake Shkodër. Their main settlement was Epicaria. They are mentioned rarely by ancient writers.

Chelidones

Chelidones was an Illyrian tribe whose name in Greek meant 'snail-men'. They lived in the Mat or Drin valleys.

Daorsi

Daorsi or Duersi or Daorsii or Daorsei was an Illyrian tribe. Another name of the tribe was Daversi. The Daorsi had suffered attacks from the Delmatae that made them along with Issa seek the aid of the Roman state. The Daorsi fought on the Roman side, providing them with their strong navy abandoning Caravantius. After the Illyrian Wars, the Daorsi were given immunity. Their most important city was Daorson. They had 17 decuriae.

Dardani

Dardani or Dardanians were located at the Thraco-Illyrian contact zone and their identification is uncertain.

Dassaretii

Dassaretii was an Illyrian tribe. They were located between the Dardani and the Ardiaei. Appian of Alexandria wrote in his Illyrian wars that according to the Ancient Greeks, Illyrius, the ancestor of the Illyrians, had a daughter, Dassaro, from whom sprang the Dassaretii. They are not to be confused with the ancient Greek Dassaretae the Lake Ohrid region.

Deretini

Deretini or Derriopes was an Illyrian tribe in Narona conventus with 14 decuriae.

Deuri

Deuri or Derbanoi was an Illyrian tribe. Other possible names are Derrioi. The Deuri had 25 decuriae.

Dyestes

Dyestes or Dyestae was an Illyrian tribe located around the silver mines of Damastion. Only Strabo passingly mentions this tribe.

Enchelei

The Enchelei or Sesarethii were an Illyrian tribe. Their name, given by the Greeks, meant "eel-men". In Greek mythology, Cadmus and Harmonia ruled over them. Several locations are hypothesized for the Encheleans: around Lake Ohrid; above Lake Ohrid or the region of Lynkestis south of the Taulantii.

Kinambroi

Kinambroi was an Illyrian tribe.They surrendered to Octavian in 33 BC.

Mazaei

Mazaei or Maezaei was a tribal group, including 269 decuriae.

Melcumani

Melcumani or Merromenoi or Melkomenioi was an Illyrian tribe. The Melcumani had 24 decuriae.

Narensi

Narensi or Narensii or Narensioi or Naresioi or Naresii was the name of a newly formed Illyrian tribe from various peoples at the River Naron. The Narensi had 102 decuriae.

Penestae

Penestae was the name of an Illyrian tribe. Their chief town was Uscana.

Sardeates

Sardeates or Sardiotai was an Illyrian tribe close to Jajce. Sardeates were later settled in Dacia. The Sardeates had 52 decuriae.

Selepitani

Selepitani was an Illyrian tribe located below the Lake Scutari.

Dalmatae

Dalmatae were an ancient Illyrian tribe. They were later Celticized. The Delmatae had 342 decuriae.

Iapydes

The Iapydes or Japodes were an ancient people who dwelt north of and inland from the Liburnians, off the Adriatic coast and eastwards of the Istrian peninsula. The first written mention of an Illyrian tribe known as "Iapydes" is by Hecataeus of Miletus.

Baridustae

Baridustae were an Illyrian tribe that was later settled in Dacia along with Pirustae and Sardeates.The Baridustae was a Dalmatian tribe.

Tariotes

The Tariotes were a subtribe of the Dalmatae that lived on the eastern Adriatic coast.

Docleatae

Docleatae were an Illyrian tribe that lived in what is now Montenegro. Their capital was Doclea, and they are called after the town. They had settled west of the Morača river, up to Montenegro's present-day borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina. The Docleatae were prominent for their cheese, which was exported to various Roman provinces within the Roman Empire. They were composed of parts of the Taulantii, the Pleraei or Pyraei, Endirudini, Sasaei, Grabaei, Labeatae that came together after the Great Illyrian revolt. The Docleatae had 33 decuriae.

Pleraei

Pleraei, Plarioi, Pyraei, Pleraioi, Plaraioi or Palarioi was the name of an Illyrian tribe.

Endirudini

Endirudini or Interphrourinoi was the name of an Illyrian tribe that became part of the Docleatae.

Sasaei

Sasaei was the name of an Illyrian tribe that became part of the Docleatae.

Grabaei

The Grabaei or Kambaioi were a minor Illyrian group that lived around Lake Scutari.

Labeates

Labeates or Labeatae was an Illyrian tribe that lived around Scodra.

Deraemestae

Deraemestae or Deraemistae was the name of an Illyrian tribe. The Deraemestae was composed of parts of several other tribes such as the Ozuaei, Taulantii, Partheni, Hemasini, Arthitae and Armistae. The Deramestae had 30 decuriae.

Oxuaioi

Ozuaei or Ozuaioi or Oxuaioi was the name of one of the tribes comprising the Deramestae.

Hemasini

Hemasini or Hippasinoi was the name of one of the tribes comprising the Deramestae.

Arthitae

Arthitae was the name of one of the tribes comprising the Deramestae.

Armistae

Armistae was the name of one of the tribes comprising the Deramestae.

Taulantii

Taulantii was the name of a cluster of Illyrian tribes. According to Greek mythology Taulas, one of the six sons of Illyrius, was the eponymous ancestor of the Taulantii. They lived on the Adriatic coast of Illyria, between to the vicinity of the city of Epidamnus. This tribe played an important role in Illyrian history of the 4th-3rd centuries BC, when King Glaukias ruled over them. This tribe had become bilingual being under the effects of an early Hellenisation. Taulantii could prepare mead, wine from honey like the Abri.

Abri

Abri were an Illyrian tribe. They could prepare mead, a wine from honey, and were known to the Greeks for that method. They were Taulantii.

Parthini

The Parthini or Partheni were Illyrians, part of the Taulantii who may be placed to the north in the mountainous neighborhood of Epidamnus, and thus, next to the Taulantii. After the death of Philip, king of Macedon, they appear to have been added to the dominions of Pleuratus, an Illyrian prince allied to the Romans. Their principal town was Parthus which was taken by Caesar in the course of his campaign with Pompeius. The double-hilled Dimale, the strongest among the Illyrian places, with two citadels on two heights, connected by a wall, was within their territory. There is no indication, however, of its precise situation, which was probably between Lissus and Epidamnus. Livy, mentions two other fortesses: Eugenium and Bargulum. They had been affected by Hellenisation. According to Robert Elsie, the tribe lived in modern day Albania, between Durres and Lezha, in the upper valley of the Shkumbin valley.

Pannonian tribes

Pannonians were an Illyrian tribe, who inhabited the southern part of what was later known as Roman province of Pannonia, south of the river Drava, and the northern part of the future Roman province of Dalmatia. The Pannonian tribes appear to have been Celticized. Later, a number of Pannonians settled in Dacia.
The Pannonians were not definitely subdued within the province of Illyricum until the Great Illyrian Revolt, which started in 6 AD when the Pannonians, together with the Dalmatians and other Illyrian tribes, revolted, and engaged the Roman Empire in a hard-fought campaign that lasted for three years, when they were finally overcome by the future emperor Tiberius and Germanicus in 9 AD. At that point, the province of Illyricum was dissolved, and its lands were divided between the new provinces of Pannonia in the north and Dalmatia in the south. The date of the division is unknown, most certainly after 20 AD but before 50 AD.
The Pannonian tribes inhabited the area between the river Drava and the Dalmatian coast. Early archaeology and onomastics show that they were culturally different from southern Illyrians, Iapodes, and the La Tène peoples commonly known as the Celts, though they were later Celticized. However, there are some cultural similarities between the Pannonians and Dalmatians. Many of the Pannonians lived in areas with rich iron ore deposits, so that iron mining and production was an important part of their economy before and after the Roman conquest. Apart from Segestica, the Pannonians did not have settlements of importance in pre-Roman times that were actually Celtic. Ancient sources mention few of the Pannonian tribes by name, and historians and archaeologists have located some of them. Those tribes were:

Amantini

Amantini was the name of a Pannonian Illyrian tribe. They greatly resisted the Romans but were sold as slaves after their defeat. The Amantini were close to Sirmium. In a similar case to the Illyrian Atintani and the ancient Greek Atintanes or Atintanians, the Amantes were ancient Greeks whilst the Amantini Illyrians, from Pannonia An ancient Greek polis with the name Amantia existed.

Breuci

Breuci were Illyrians of the subtribe of Pannonians. They greatly resisted the Romans but some were sold as slaves after their defeat. They received Roman citizenship during Trajan's rule. It is likely that the name of the north-eastern Bosnian city Brčko is derived from the name of this tribe. A number of Breuci settled in Dacia.
Bato the Breucian of the Breuci tribe and Pinnes from Pannonia were among the leaders of the Great Illyrian Revolt, together with Bato the Daesitiate of the Daesitiates from Dalmatia.

Colapiani

Colapiani was the name of an Illyrian tribe. The Colapiani were created from the Pannonian Breuci along with the Osseriates and the Celtic Varciani. They lived in the central and southern White Carniola, along the Kupa river, and were mentioned by Pliny the Elder and Ptolemy. The archeologists Jaro Šašel and Dragan Božič have attributed the Vinica material culture to Colapiani, but opinions are divided.

Daesitiates

Daesitiates were an Illyrian tribe that lived in what is today central Bosnia and Herzegovina during the time of the Roman Republic. Along with the Maezaei, the Daesitiates were part of the western group of Pannonians in Roman Dalmatia. They were prominent from the end of the 4th century BC up until the beginning of the 3rd century AD. Evidence of their daily activities can be found in literary sources, as well as in the rich material finds that belong to the Central Bosnian cultural group. After nearly three centuries of political independence, the Daesitiates were conquered by Roman Emperor Augustus. Afterwards, the Daesitiates were incorporated into the province of Illyricum with a low total of 103 decuriae.

Pirustae

Pirustae or Pyrissaei were a Pannonian Illyrian tribe that lived in modern Montenegro. According to some sources, they had also lived in territories outside of modern-day Montenegro, but the majority of archaeologists, including the famous British archaeologist Sir Arthur Evans, say that the Pirustae had lived in northern Montenegro, around present-day Pljevlja and that they were prominent miners. Their prominence in mining has been seen in epigraphic monuments from Dacia's mining regions. Pirustae along with other Pannonians and Illyrians like the Sardeates were later settled in Dacia.

Scirtari

Scirtari or Scirtones were an Illyrian tribe. Scirtari were part of the Pirustae. The Scirtari had 72 decuriae.

Glintidiones

Glintidiones were an Illyrian tribe. The Glintidiones may have been part of the Pirustae. The Glintidiones had 44 decuriae.

Ceraunii

Ceraunii was the name of an Illyrian tribe that lived close to the Pirustae in modern Montenegro. The Ceraunii were part of the Pirustae. They had 24 decuriae.

Siculotae

Siculotae or Sikoulotai were an Illyrian tribe. The Siculotae were part of the Pirustae. The Siculotae had 24 decuriae.

Segestani

Segestani were Illyrians of the subtribe of Pannonians who inhabited the area around Segestica.
In the 2nd century BC, the Segestani were attacked without lasting success by consuls Lucius Aurelius Cotta and an unidentified Cornelius.
In 35 BC, the Segestani were attacked by Augustus, who conquered and occupied Siscia.

Maezaei

Maezaei or Maizaioi or Mazaioi were Illyrians of the subtribe of Pannonians. The Maezaei had 269 decuriae.

Andizetes

Andizetes, also referred to as Andisetes, was a small Pannonian tribe that lived in the territory of present-day Bosnia and Herzegovina. Not much is known about this tribe except that it is found on the list of Illyrian tribes that rose against the Roman Empire during the Great Illyrian Revolt. The personal name of Andes, a variant of the name Andis popular among the Illyrians of southern Pannonia and much of northern Dalmatia, may be derived from the name of this tribe. They started receiving Roman citizenship during Trajan's rule.

Azali

Azali was a tribe that inhabited Brigetio in Noricum, transported there during the Roman conquest from southern Pannonia. They had been deported after the 6–9 AD rebellion. They, along with the Eravisci, inhabited the Fejér County during the Marcomannic Wars. The civitas azaliorum included the Brigetio legionary fortress and surrounding settlements.

Ditiones

Ditiones were Illyrians of the subtribe of Pannonians. The Ditiones had 239 decuriae.

Jasi

Jasi was the name of an Illyrian tribe, subtribe of Pannonians.

Osseriates

Osseriates, along with the Celtic Varciani and the Colapiani, were created from the Pannonian Breuci.

Illyrii proprie dicti

Illyrii proprie dicti were the Illyrians proper, so called by Pliny in his Natural History. They later formed the Docleatae. They were the Taulantii, the Pleraei or Pyraei, the Endirudini, Sasaei, Grabaei, Labeatae. Illyrians proper were also some of the native communities of Roman Dalmatia.

Thracian–Illyrian

Atintani were a tribe in Illyria, north of Via Egnatia. Appian mentions them close to Epidamnus. During the Illyrian Wars, the Atintani went over to the Romans and, according to Appian, Demetrius of Pharos tried to detach them from Roman authority. The Atintani seem to have originated from the obscure, perhaps Thracian Tynteni, only attested in coins. The Atintani were ruled by the Thracian dynasty of the Peresadyes.

Phrygian

In the early historical sources from the 8th century BC, the Liburnians were recorded by name or as separate ethnic groups; and as early as the 6th century BC, Hecateus noted that the Liburnians were also composed of Caulici, Mentores, Syopii and Hythmitae, probably narrow tribal communities. Later, in the 3rd century BC, Callimachus mentioned Mentores, Hymanes, Enchealae and Peucetias as those who once had been a part of them, Ismeni were also recorded as one of their communities.

Iapygian/Messapian

Iapygians and Messapians did not dwell in Illyria, but in the heel of southern Italy. They could have had Illyrian origins or some sort of link with Illyria.