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.Illyrian
Albani
The Albani 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.Amantes
The Amantes lived in present-day south-western Albania. The site of Amantia has been identified with the location of their territory. The toponym has a connection with the modern Albanian term amë/ãmëThe Ardiaei or Ouardaioi were an Illyrian people, originally residing inland, and eventually settling on the Adriatic coast. Strabo describes them as one of the three strongest Illyrian peoples, the other two being the Autariatae and Dardani. The political entity of the Ardiaei, which expanded in the south-eastern Adriatic, came to be identified with the Illyrian kingdom in the 3rd century BCE. Under the Ardiaean king Agron and his wife Teuta, the Illyrian kingdom reached its apex. It became a formidable power both on land and sea by assembling a great army and fleet, and directly ruling over a large area made up of different Illyrian tribes and cities that stretched from the Neretva River in the north to the borders of Epirus in the south, while its influence extended throughout Epirus and down into Acarnania. The Ardiaean realm became one of Rome's major enemies, and its primary threat in the Adriatic Sea. The dominant power of the Illyrian kingdom in the region ceased after its defeat in the Illyro-Roman Wars. In Roman times the Ardiaei had 20 decuriaeAutariatae
The Autariatae or Autariates were an Illyrian tribe that became prominent between the 6th and 4th centuries BCE. Strabo describes them as one of the three strongest Illyrian peoples, the other two being the Ardiaei and Dardani. After their defeat during the Celtic invasions of the Balkans in the 4th century, a part of the Autariatae who remained in Bosnia gradually adopted Celtic culture, while another part moved southwards and after an agreement with the Kingdom of Macedonia, 20,000 settled in the Parorbelian mountain range, in an area between modern south-eastern North Macedonia, northern Greece and south-western Bulgaria.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
The Bathiatae were an Illyrian tribe.Bylliones
The Bylliones were an Illyrian tribe. They were affected by a partial cultural Hellenisation. They constituted one of the most notable Illyrian koina of the Hellenistic period, with their territory featuring a network of several settlements. Byllis and Nikaia were their chief centres.Cavii
The Cavii were an Illyrian tribe. They lived close to Lake Shkodër. Their main settlement was Epicaria. They are mentioned rarely by ancient writers.The Daorsi or Duersi or Daorsii or Daorsei were 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
The Dardani or Dardanians were a central Balkan people, among the oldest in the region. They were the most stable and conservative ethnic element among the peoples of the central Balkans, retaining an enduring presence in the region for several centuries. Ancient tradition considered the Dardani as an Illyrian people, and Strabo, in particular describes them as one of the three strongest Illyrian peoples, the other two being the Ardiaei and Autariatae. Their name is traditionally connected to the same root as dardhë, the Albanian word for 'pear', as well as Alb. dardhán, dardán, 'farmer'. The ethnonym Pirustae, which is attested since Roman times for a tribe close to the Dardani or living in Dardania, is considered to be the Latin translation of Dardani. Subgroups of the Dardani included the Galabri and the Thunatae, whose tribal names have been, respectively, connected to the Messapic Kalabroi/Calabri and Daunioi/Daunii in Apulia, of Palaeo-Balkan provenance. In pre-Roman times the Dardani constituted their own Kingdom, often in conflict with their south-eastern neighbor—Macedon.The Dassaretii were an Illyrian people who lived in the inlands of southern Illyria, between present-day south-eastern Albania and south-western North Macedonia. They were directly in contact with the regions of Orestis and Lynkestis of Upper Macedonia. The Dassaretii were one of the most prominent peoples of southern Illyria, forming an ethnic state. They made up the ancient Illyrian kingdom that was established in this region. Most scholars hold that the early 4th century BC Illyrian realm of Bardylis—the first attested Illyrian king—was centered along Lake Ohrid and east to the Prespa Lakes in Dassaretan territory, located on the border between Macedon and Epirus.Deretini
The Deretini or Derriopes were an Illyrian tribe in Narona conventus with 14 decuriae.Deuri
The Deuri or Derbanoi were an Illyrian tribe. Other possible names are Derrioi. In a conventus held in Salona after the Roman conquest the Deuri had 25 decuriae.Dyestes
The Dyestes or Dyestae were 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. According to E. Hamp, a connection with Albanian ngjalë makes it possible that the name Enchele was derived from the Illyrian term for eels Cadmus and Harmonia ruled over them. Several locations are hypothesized for the Encheleans: around Lake Ohrid; above Lake Ohrid, or in the region of Lynkestis south of the Taulantii.Kinambroi
The Kinambroi were an Illyrian tribe. They surrendered to Octavian in 33 BCE.The Labeatae or Labeates were an Illyrian people that lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria, around Lake Scodra. The dynasty of the last Illyrian kings was Labeatan. It is possible that the decline of the Ardiaean dynasty after Queen Teuta's defeat in the First Illyrian War against Rome caused the emergence of the Labeatan dynasty on the political scene. The last known Illyrian king, Gentius, was defeated in the Third Illyro-Roman war in 168. In Roman times the Labeatae minted coins bearing the inscription of their ethnicon.Mazaei
The Mazaei or Maezaei were a tribal group, including 269 decuriae.Melcumani
The Melcumani or Merromenoi or Melkomenioi were 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 living around the River Naron or Neretva, mostly in its lower course. The Narensi had 102 decuriae.Parthini
The Parthini lived in southern Illyria.Penestae
was the name of an Illyrian tribe. Their chief town was Uscana.Selepitani
The Selepitani were an Illyrian tribe located below the Lake Scutari.The Siculotae or Sikoulotai were an Illyrian tribe. The Siculotae were part of the Pirustae. The Siculotae had 24 decuriae.The Dalmatae were an ancient Illyrian tribe. It is considered to be connected to the Albanian dele and its variants which include the Gheg form delmë, meaning "sheep", and to the Albanian term delmer, "shepherd". 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.The Baridustae were an Illyrian tribe that was later settled in Dacia along with Pirustae and Sardeates. The Baridustae were a Dalmatian tribe.Tariotes
The Tariotes were a subtribe of the Dalmatae that lived on the eastern Adriatic coast.Sardiatae
The Sardiatae or Sardiotai were an Illyrian tribe close to Jajce. Sardeates were later settled in Dacia. The Sardeates had 52 decuriae.