Bardylis II (

Ancient Greek Ancient Greek (, ; ) includes the forms of the Greek language used in ancient Greece and the classical antiquity, ancient world from around 1500 BC to 300 BC. It is often roughly divided into the following periods: Mycenaean Greek (), Greek ...

: Βάρδυλις; ruled ''c.'' 295290 ) was an Illyrian king, and presumably the son of Cleitus, and grandson of

Bardylis Bardylis or Bardyllis (; ; –358 BC) was an Illyrian king, and the founder of the first attested Illyrian dynasty. During his reign, Bardylis aimed to make Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He united many southern Illyrian ...

. He was the father of Bircenna, wife of

Pyrrhus of Epirus Pyrrhus ( ; ; 319/318–272 BC) was a Greeks, Greek king and wikt:statesman, statesman of the Hellenistic period.Plutarch. ''Parallel Lives'',Pyrrhus... He was king of the Molossians, of the royal Aeacidae, Aeacid house, and later he became ki ...

. Bardylis II is the only attested Illyrian king after Glaucias' death. He may have succeeded Glaucias on the throne as the grandson of Bardylis I, or alternatively he may have reigned independently after his father Cleitus somewhere in

Dassareti The Dassaretii (Ancient Greek: Δασσαρῆται, Δασσαρήτιοι, ''Dassaretai'', ''Dassaretioi''; Latin language, Latin: ''Dassaretae'', ''Dassaretii'') were an Illyrians, Illyrian List of ancient Illyrian peoples and tribes, people ...

a, in an area located nearer the

Macedon Macedonia ( ; , ), also called Macedon ( ), was an ancient kingdom on the periphery of Archaic and Classical Greece, which later became the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The kingdom was founded and initially ruled by the royal ...

ian border. At that time Bardylis II was evidently the most powerful king in

Illyria In classical and late antiquity, Illyria (; , ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; , ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyrians. The Ancient Gree ...

who could unite the largest number of

Illyrian tribes The Illyrians (, ; ) were a conglomeration of Indo-European peoples and tribes in the Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe. Illyrian tribes Possibly related peoples * Antitani / Atintanes / Atintani? ( Illyrian Atintani) *Dassaretae ( ...

under his rule.

Biography

Bardylis II, also called Bardylis the Younger, was presumably the son of Cleitus and grandson of

, both enemies of the

Macedonian kingdom Macedonia ( ; , ), also called Macedon ( ), was an Classical antiquity, ancient monarchy, kingdom on the periphery of Archaic Greece, Archaic and Classical Greece, which later became the dominant state of Hellenistic Greece. The History of ...

. A feat of these dimensions could be achieved only through war against Macedonia and, apparently, also against the heirs of Glaucias. Bardylis II might have absorbed or inherited Glaucias'

Taulantii Taulantii or Taulantians ('swallow-men'; Ancient Greek: , or , ; ) were an Illyrians, Illyrian people that lived on the Adriatic coast of southern Illyria (modern Albania). They dominated at various times much of the plain between the rivers Dri ...

State. Pyrrhus waged a war against the Illyrians and conquered the Illyrian capital, although the location of the Illyrian capital at that time is not known. Thus, Bardylis II and Pyrrhus might have shared Glaucias' Taulantii State. The king became a client king to Pyrrhus since Pyrrhus' power and hatred of Macedon made him an attractive ally to Bardylis II. Bardylis II became Pyrrhus' father-in-law when his daughter Bircenna became one of the wives of Pyrrhus, proving his power in southern

.(Plut. Pyrrh. 9.)

References

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* * *

External links

* {{Illyrians Illyrian kings 3rd-century BC monarchs in Europe Year of birth unknown Year of death unknown

Biography

See also

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External links