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Illyrian invasion of Epirus

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Invasion of Molossia
Date385 BC
Location
Result
  • Illyrian victory over Molossians and Alcetas restoration as King of Molossians[1]
  • Spartan intervention and Illyrian withdrawal from Epirus[2]
Belligerents
Illyrians Molossians
Supported by:
Syracusans
Supported by:
Thessalians
Macedonians
Spartans
Commanders and leaders
Illyrian king Bardylis
Dionysius I
Alcetas I
Pro-Spartan Molossian dynast
Agesilaus II
Strength
unknown number of Illyrians
2,000 Syracusan soldiers
unknown
Casualties and losses
unknown 15,000 Molossians killed

An Illyrian invasion against the Molossians in Epirus occurred in 385 BC. Illyrians, led by king Bardylis,[3] 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.[4]

History

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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 Bardylis, for their battles with the Molossians in Epirus. Attackers killed about 15,000 Molossians.[5] 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.[6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Malkin 1998, p. 247; Howe 2017, p. 103
  2. ^ Malkin 1998, p. 247
  3. ^ Tsetskhladze, Gocha (2008). Greek Colonisation An Account of Greek Colonies and Other Settlements Overseas, Volume Two · Volume 2. Brill. p. 501. ISBN 978-90-474-4244-8.
  4. ^ Malkin 1998, p. 247; Castiglioni 2007, p. 174; Lane Fox 2011, p. 225; King 2017, p. 57 Howe 2017, p. 103.
  5. ^ Luttenberger, Mark (2019). Philip II of Macedon: A New Age Begins. Page Publishing. p. 41. ISBN 978-1-64584-235-4.
  6. ^ Diodorus, Siculus. "Fifteenth book".

Bibliography

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