The Illyrians (, ; ) were a conglomeration of Indo-European peoples and tribes in the Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe.
Illyrian tribes
Tribe Description Abroi Albanoi The Albanoi populated the region between the Mat and Shkumbin. Their chief settlement was Albanopolis located in Zgërdhesh, near Krujë. Amantes Also referred to as the Amantieis or Amantini, the Amantes lived in the inland region of the Bay of Vlorë. Ardiaei The Ardiaei lived in a region between Konjic on the north, the Neretva on the west, Lake Shkodër to the southeast and the Adriatic Sea on the south. The chief settlements of the Ardiaean State were Rhizon and Scodra. Armistae Arthitae Autariatae The Autariatae, alternatively known as Autariatai or Autariates, inhabited the valleys of Lim, Tara and West Morava within the Accursed Mountains. Balaites Baridustae BathiataeThe Bathiatae were located among today's modern Bosna River which was once known as Bathinus flumen and they took their name from this river. Bylliones CaviiThe Cavii lived close to Lake Shkodër. Their main settlement was Epicaria, which is thought to be probably located around modern-day Pukë. Dalmatae The Dalmatae lived in the region of Dalmatia. Daorsi The Daorsi lived in the valley of Neretva. DardaniThe Dardani lived in the Kosovo and areas around it. Dassareti Daunians Deraemestae Deretini Deuri DindariThe Dindari were of Celtic influence and lived on the western bank of the Drina Valley, close to Skelani and Srebrenica. Docleatae Dyestes Enchele Endirudini Grabaei Iapydes Kinambroi Labeatae Mazaei Melcumani Messapians Narensi Ozuaei Parthini Penestae Peucetians Pleraei Sardiatae Sasaei Selepitani Tariotes Taulantii The Taulantii or Taulantians were are among the most archaic attested Illyrian peoples. They inhabited the region across the hinterland of Dyrrhachion-Epidamnos between the valleys of Mat and Shkumbin.
Possibly related peoples
Antitani / Atintanes / Atintani? (Illyrian Atintani) Dassaretae Turboletae
Pannonians Eastern group Amantini / Amantes Andes / Andizetes Azali Breuci Colapiani Oseriates / Osseriates Ditiones Jasi Pirustae / Pirusti Ceraunii Glintidiones Scirtari Siculotae
Western group Daesitiates Maezaei / Maizaioi / Mazaioi Segestani
Paeonians
There are different views and still no agreement among scholars about the Paeonians/Paeones ethnic and linguistic kinship. Some such as Wilhelm Tomaschek and Paul Kretschmer claim that the language spoken by the Paeonians belonged to the Illyrian family, while Dimitar Dechev claims affinities with Thracian. Irwin L. Merker considers that the language spoken by the Paeonians was closely related to Greek (if it was a distinct language and not a dialect of ancient Greek), a Hellenic language with "a great deal of Illyrian and Thracian influence as a result of this proximity".
AgrianesEarly symbolic systems for communication in Southeast Europe, Part 2 by Lolita Nikolova, , 2003, page 529, "eastern Paionians (Agrianians and Laeaeans)" (also, Agriani and Agrii) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian) AlmopiansThe Landmark Thucydides: A Comprehensive Guide to the Peloponnesian War by Thucydides, Robert B. Strassler, Richard Crawley, and Victor Davis Hanson, 1998, , page 153,"... of them still live round Physcasb- and the Almopians from Almopia. (also Almopioi) DerronesThe Cambridge Ancient History, Martin Percival Charlesworth, , Volume 4, Persia, Greece and the Western Mediterranean, C. 525 to 479 B.C, John Boardman, page 252, "The Paeonians were the earlier owners of some of these mines, but after their defeat in the coastal sector they maintained their independence in the mainland and coined large denominations in the upper Strymon and the Upper Axius area in the names of the Laeaei and the Derrones" (also Derroni) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian) DoberesThe Histories (Penguin Classics) by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, , 2003, page 452, "... Then he passed through the country of the Doberes and Paeoplae (Paeonian tribes living north of Pangaeum), and continued in a ..." Laeaeans (also Laeaei and Laiai) OdomantesAn Inventory of Archaic and Classical Poleis: An Investigation Conducted by The Copenhagen Polis Centre for the Danish National Research Foundation by Mogens Herman Hansen and Thomas Heine Nielsen, 2005, , page 854, ... Various tribes have occupied this part of Thrace: Bisaltians (lower Strymon valley), Odomantes (the plain to the north of the Strymon) ... (also Odomanti) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian)Thrace in the Graeco-Roman world, p. 112 but others claim that together with the Agrianes and Odomanti, at least the latter of which were with certainty Thracian, not Paeonian. PaeoplaeThe Histories (Penguin Classics) by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, , 2003, page 315, ... "was that a number of Paeonian tribes – the Siriopaeones, Paeoplae, ..." SiropaionesThe Histories (Penguin Classics) by Herodotus, John M. Marincola, and Aubery de Selincourt, , 2003, page 315, "... was that a number of Paeonian tribes – the Siriopaeones, Paeoplae, ..."
See also List of Illyrians List of settlements in Illyria List of ancient tribes in Illyria
References
Sources
Mallory, James P.; Adams, D. Q. (1997). Encyclopedia of Indo-European Culture. Routledge. Wilkes, John. (1996). The Illyrians. Wiley-Blackwell.