Rome, Between the First and Second Punic Wars (241-218 BC): Illyria, First and Second wars with Rome

llyria was a region in the northwest Balkans. It consisted of many small backward kingdoms, the best known being in present-day Albania with its capital at Scodra. At its peak it was ruled by Agron (r.c.250-c.231 BC), who with Demetrius II of Macedonia (46; r.239-229 BC), defeated the Aetolians in c.231 BC. When Agron died his wife Teuta (r.c.231-c.222 BC) became regent for her stepson Pinnes (r.219-218 BC).

In the following year Teuta authorised a series of piratical raids down the coast of western Greece, putting the main sea-route between the Greek world and Italy in danger. Rome sent ambassadors but they were not well received by Teuta and were killed on their way home. During this time the Illyrians had captured Corcyra and placed it under the command of their ally Demetrius of Pharos (d.214 BC).

In summer 229 BC the consul ⁰⁷Fulvius Centumalus sailed to Corcyra with two hundred ships with his colleague ⁰⁷Postumius Albinus (fl.234-216 BC) with twenty thousand foot and two thousand horse. Corcyra (betrayed by Demetrius, who then sided with the Romans), Apollonia and Dyrrhachium surrendered. The army continued northwards without any serious opposition, while the fleet received the submission of Issa, Pharos, and Corcyra Nigra. Teuta fled to her fortress at Rhizon where she held out till spring 228 BC.

To discourage further aggression, ‘friends of Rome’ were positioned on the Illyrian flanks. In the north Demetrius was given his native island, Pharos, together with other islands and mainland towns; in the south Corcyra and other liberated towns became Roman allies. Armed Illyrian ships were prohibited from entering Greek waters; Agron’s son Pinnes was left in charge with his stepmother Teuta as regent.

After the war Roman sent ambassadors to the Achaeans, Aetolians, Corinthians and Athenians. As the Greeks no less than the Romans had benefited from the suppression of the piracy, the envoys were well received and Corinth admitted the Romans to the Isthmian Games, thus recognizing them as members of the Hellenic world.

In summer 220 BC, accompanied by some of their Istrian neighbours, Demetrius of Pharos (r.c.222-219 BC), who had become regent for Pinnes after Teuta disappeared, and Scerdilaidas, king of the Ardiaeans of southern Illyria, took a fleet of  ninety lemboi (light galleys) south and joined the Aetolians for a raid on the Messenian town of Pylos. When the attack failed, Scerdilaidas headed home and Demetrius sailed on for some piracy among the islands of the Aegean Sea.

In summer 219 BC the consuls ⁰⁸Aemilius Paullus (fl.219-216 BC) and ⁰¹Livius Salinator (c.50; fl.219-c.204 BC) sailed for Greece. Dimale fell in seven days and the fleet sailed on to Pharos. Aemilius sent twenty of his ships to present a threat in the harbour, while the rest of the fleet secretly landed its troops behind the town. When Demetrius sent his garrison out to meet the frontal attack, the concealed Romans attacked his rear and decided the battle, but Demetrius escaped on a lembus to his benefactor Philip V of Macedon (59; r.221-179 BC).