Illyrian invasion of Epirus

Illyrian campaign against the Balkans
Date 385 BC Location Epirus, Thessaly, Macedonia, Thracia and Dacia Result Illyrian victory Illyrians occupied Epirus Illyrians continued their campaign and occupied a large part of Mainland Greece including Macedonia,Thrace and small parts of Dacia Alcetas restoration as King of Molossians Illyrian forces withdrew after Spartan intervention but Northern Epirus,Upper Macedonia,parts of Thrace and Dacia stayed in Illyrian control
Belligerents
Illyrians	Molossians
Supported by: Syracusans	Supported by: Thessalians Macedonians Spartans Thracians Dacia
Commanders and leaders
Illyrian king (most likely Bardylis) Dionysius I Alcetas I	Pro-Spartan Molossian dynast Agesilaus II Hebryzelmis
Strength
7,000 Illyrians 2,000 Syracuse soldiers	5,000 Spartans 10,000 Epirotes 7,000 Macedonians 3,000 Thessalians c. 5,000 Thracians c. 5,000 Dacians
Casualties and losses
Less than 3000	50,000 in total 15,000 Molossians, more than 30,000 Macedonians, Thessalians, Spartans, Thracians and Dacians

The Illyrian invasion against the Balkans in Epirus,Macedonia,Thessaly,Thrace and Dacia occurred in 385 BC. Illyrians, led most likely by king Bardylis, were supported by Dionysius I of Syracuse who was aiming to expand his influence in the eastern Adriatic Sea and Ionian Sea, and by Alcetas I of Epirus who was expelled from his land by the Molossian pro-Spartan party and exiled in Syracuse.

History

In 385 BC, Alcetas of Epirus was a refugee in Syracuse for unknown reasons. The tyrant of Syracuse, Dionysius, wanted a friendly monarch in Epirus, so he sent 2,000 Greek hoplites and 500 suits of Greek armour to help the Illyrians, who at that time were led by king Bardyllis, for their battles with the Molossians in Epirus. Attackers killed about 15,000 Molossian warriors. Alcetas was restored to the throne, but the Illyrians didn't stop there. They continued pillaging throughout Epirus and parts of Greece. Dionysius joined them in an attempt to plunder the temple of Delphi. Then, Sparta, supported by Thessaly and Macedonians, intervened under Agesilaus, and expelled the Illyrians and the Syracusan warriors.

See also

• Illyrian warfare

Bibliography

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