Illyrian invasion against the Greeks (385 BC)
| Illyrian campaign against the Balkans |
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| Date | 385 BC |
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| Location | |
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| 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[1]
- Illyrian forces withdrew after Spartan intervention but Northern Epirus,Upper Macedonia,parts of Thrace and Dacia stayed in Illyrian control[2]
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| Belligerents |
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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 |
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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 |
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|
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.[3]
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.[4]
