Bardylis (also Bardyllis/bɑːrˈdɪlɪs/; Ancient Greek: Βάρδυλις; c. 448 – c. 358 BC) was an Illyrian king, and the founder of the first attested Illyrian dynasty.[1] During his reign, Bardylis aimed to make Illyria a regional power interfering with Macedon. He united many southern Illyrian tribes under his realm and defeated the Macedonians and Molossians several times, expanding his dominion over Upper Macedonia, including Lynkestis, and ruling over Macedon through a puppet king. Before the Rise of Macedon Illyrians were the dominant power in the region.[2] Bardylis also led raids against Epirus, but his soldiers were eventually expelled from the region.[3]
Most scholars hold that the Illyrian kingdom that was established by Bardylis was centered along Lake Ohrid and east to the Prespa Lakes, which was called Dassaretis later in Roman times, located on the border between Macedon and Epirus.[4][a] Illyrians, in particular under Bardylis' leadership, held a remarkable role in the development of the Argead Macedonian military.[9] Philip II and Alexander the Great spent at least some of their youth age at Illyrian courts, getting well familiar with Illyrian customs, habits and specially military strategies and techniques.[2]
According to ancient sources, Bardylis lived to over 90 years. According to these sources, Bardylis lived a long time and was at an advanced age when he faced Philip II of Macedon in 358 BC and at whose hands he died[10] after Philip rejected his offer of peace based on Bardylis retaining conquered lands.[11] Bardylis' son Cleitus revolted with the help of Taulantian king Glaukias against Alexander the Great in the siege of Pelium undertaken in 335 BC.
^Šašel Kos 2002, p. 106"... Bardylis , the first attested Illyrian king..."
^ abHowe 2017, p. 108.
^Malkin 1998, p. 247; Castiglioni 2007, p. 174; Lane Fox 2011, p. 225; King 2017, p. 57 Howe 2017, p. 103.
^Toynbee 1969, p. 116; Mortensen 1991, pp. 49–59; Cabanes 2002, pp. 50–51, 56, 75; Šašel Kos 2002, p. 106; Castiglioni 2010, p. 58; Lane Fox 2011, p. 342; Mesihović & Šačić 2015, pp. 129–130; Parisot 2015, p. 477; Vujčić 2021, p. 503; Shehi 2023, p. 183.
^Cabanes 2002, pp. 50–51, 56, 75.
^Mortensen 1991, pp. 49–59.
^Lane Fox 2011, p. 342: "Their own king Bardylis was king of a realm along Lake Ohrid and east to the two Prespa Lakes, the "Dassaretis" of later topography, not "Dardania", as Hammond postulated"
^Vujčić 2021, pp. 501–504.
^Howe 2017, pp. 99, 108.
^Woodward 1993, p. 175: "Bardylis, king of, defeated and killed by Philip of Macedonia, 359 — Cleitus, his son, revolts from Alexander and is subdued."
^Borza 1990, p. 202: "The Illyrian king Bardylis offered peace based upon a status quo, but Philip insisted on an Illyrian withdrawal from the region."
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techniques. According to ancient sources, Bardylis lived to over 90 years. According to these sources, Bardylis lived a long time and was at an advanced...
Bardylis II (Ancient Greek: Βάρδυλις; ruled c. 295 – 290 BC) was an Illyrian king, and presumably the son of Cleitus, and grandson of Bardylis. He was...
under the leadership of Cleitus, son of Bardylis, with the aid of Glaucias, king of the Taulantii. Bardylis II, who reigned in the early 3rd century...
dynasty of Bardylis—the first attested Illyrian dynasty—was Dassaretan. There is also another historical reconstruction that considers Bardylis a Dardani...
360 BC, Perdiccas tried to reconquer upper Macedonia from the Illyrian Bardylis, but the expedition ended in disaster, with Perdiccas being killed. Diodorus...
Diodorus (16.93.6), elsewhere unattested in ancient sources. Cleitus, son of Bardylis I (r. 335–295 BC): mastermind behind the Illyrian Revolt in Pelion of 335...
scholars believe that Illyrian rulers Bardylis, Audata, Cleitus (son of Bardylis), Bardylis II, Bircenna (daughter of Bardylis II), and Monunios were Dardanian...
of Lychnidus. According to a number of modern scholars the dynasty of Bardylis—the first attested Illyrian dynasty—was Dassaretan. The weakening of the...
Most scholars hold that the Illyrian kingdom that was established by Bardylis was centered along Lake Ohrid and east to the Prespa Lakes, which was called...
is Bardylis, the name of a 4th century BCE Illyrian king, and founder of the first attested Illyrian dinasty. The name was again carried by Bardylis' grandson...
Thrace in the process. Philip II also fought against the Illyrian king Bardylis, who threatened Macedonia proper, and against Grabos II and Pleuratus in...
167 BCE. The most notable Illyrian kingdoms and dynasties were those of Bardylis of the Dardani and of Agron of the Ardiaei who created the last and best-known...
king Bardylis after his victory against Perdiccas III of Macedon in 360 BC. At the Battle of Erigon Valley in 358 BC, the Illyrians under Bardylis were...
killed while defending his country against an Illyrian attack led by King Bardylis. He is succeeded by his infant son, Amyntas IV. The child's uncle, Philip...
their Roman occupiers. Bato wanted to be like the Great Illyrian king Bardylis. From 33 BC, the Daesitiates were under Roman rule as a semi-independent...
was anxious to re-establish its presence in northern Greece. In 385 BC, Bardylis and his Illyrians attacked Epirus instigated and aided by Dionysius I of...
wife was the Illyrian princess Bircenna, who was the daughter of King Bardylis II (r. c. 295–290 BC); and his fifth wife was the daughter of Ptolemy Keraunos...
Philip had married Audata, daughter or granddaughter of the Illyrian king Bardylis. However, this marriage did not prevent him from marching against the Illyrians...
first mentioned as bringing a considerable force to the assistance of Bardylis' son Cleitus, an Illyrian prince who revolted against Alexander the Great...
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