Illyricum - Dalmatia

In Illyricum's early history, constant warfare with neighboring tribes forced the Illyrians to unite for the common good. Over time, they became a constant source of irritation for the Spartans and the Macedonia. In 424 B.C, they assaulted the Spartans during the Peloponnesian War, on their march across Thessaly and Macedon causing a Spartan retreat. In fact, in 359 BC, the Illyrians nearly succeeded in destroying Macedon, however, Philip, the father of Alexander the Great, subdued the Illyrians and captured part of their kingdom.

After the fall of Alexander and the decline of Greek power during the 3rd century BC, the Illyrians turned their fortunes to piracy. Conducting their raids from the secluded harbors of the coast, they ravaged the shores of Italy and Greece and preyed on the commerce of the Adriatic. In response to calls for help from Greece, Rome demanded a cessation of the piracy, but the Illyrians rejected. This rejection led to two successive defeats in the Roman wars of 229 and 219 BCE, the Illyrians would submit.

Illyria, however, remained a powerful kingdom with its capital at Skodra, until 180 BCE, when the Dalmatians declared themselves independent of king Gentius. So the history of Dalmatia began when the tribe from which the country derives its name declared itself independent of Gentius, the Illyrian king, and established a republic. After the Dalmatians had split from the kingdom, the Romans conquered Gentius and established (168-167 BCE) one of the earliest Roman colonies as Illyricum.

In 156 BCE the Dalmatians were for the first time attacked by a Roman army and compelled to pay tribute. They, however, resisted formal surrender and Roman control until the early part of the first century CE. They joined in an attempt with the Pannonians and to liberate their territories from Roman occupation in 6 CE and they were not finally subdued until 9 CE by Augustus and Tiberius. From then on, all of Illyria was annexed and united as the Roman province of Illyricum

Illyricum prospered, as it became an important trade link between western and eastern Europe. The ports on the Illyrian coast became important trade routes as well, and the Latin influence spread quickly and without resistance throughout the region.

Known to be aggressive people in their early relations to Rome, they were eager and readily recruited into the Roman Legions. Illyricum eventually grew into one of the leading recruiting grounds for the Roman armies. Eventually, as it became highly Romanized, it was known as the birthplace of several Emperors including Diocletion. Parts of the area remained in the Byzantine Empire until the 14th century AD., though it mostly fell to Serbs, Bulgars and others by the 7th century.

Illyria's position on the Adriatic Sea and proximity to the Italian province made it an important stop in trade with the eastern empire. Gold, iron and silver were found in adequate quantities in the region and animal hides were also exported.