Gentius - Third Illyrian War

Third Illyrian War

In January/February 168 BC Gentius having mustered his force of 15,000 men and fleet of lembi at Lissus, the southernmost city of the State, Gentius advanced into Roam territory and laid siege to the Illyrian city of Bassania, a Roman ally which refused to yield although it was only 5 miles from Lissus. His half-brother Caravantius detaching 1,000 infantry and 50 horsemen attacked the Cavii, failing to capture one of their cities while ravaging the fields of the city of Caravandis. A float of eight lembi set off a little later to attack the coastal colonial cities of Epidamnus and Appolonia. Meanwhile the Romans under Appius Claudius had heard of the alliance that Gentius made with Perseus of Macedonia and the arrest of the Roman envoys. He therefor moved his army out of their winter quarters at Nymphaeum, added to its troops from Byllis, Epidamnus and Appolonia, as he marched north, and encamped by the river Genesus (Shkumbin). There he met with the new Roman commander, Lucius Anicius Gallus, a praetor. Anicius had crossed over from Italy to Appolonia with two legions totaling 600 cavalry and 10,400 infantry and of Italian allies, 800 cavalry and 10,000 infantry. His fleet whose size is not known was strengthened by a draft of 5,000 sailors. To this imposing force he added 200 cavalry and 2,000 infantry of the Parthini, an Illyrian koinon allies to the Romans. These combined forces outnumbered those of Gentius's by two to one.

As a folio of Livy's text is missing, little is known of this campaign. It seems that Anicius's fleets engaged the lembi of Gentius and captured a number of them. Next The Illyrian forces were defeated on land allowing the Romans to advance to the heart of the state where the Romans won the cities by humane and clement methods. Gentius concentrated his forces in his capital Shkodra, a well fortified city and strong in its natural position. When Anicius approached with his army in battle formation fled into the city in panic. Gentius asked for and was given a three day truce hoping that Caravantius would come at any moment with a large relieving army, but it didi not happen. After his defeat Gentius sent two envoys among the prominent tribal leaders Teuticus and Bellus, to negotiate with the Roman commander. On the third day of the truce Gentius came to the Roman camp and surrendered the Romans, who gave him a dinner with full honous and then put him under arrest. The Illyrians in Shkodra surrendered and the Roman envoys were liberated. The Roman army marched north of Scutari Lake where at Meteon they captured Gentius' queen Etuta, his brother Caravantius and his sons Scerdilaides and Pleuratus along with leading Illyrians.

The fall of the Ardiaean State is transmitted by Livy in a ceremonial manner of the triumph of Anicius in Rome:

In a few days, both on land and sea did he defeat the brave Illyrian tribe, who had relied on their knowledge of their own territory and fortifications

This part of the campaign had only lasted thirty days. There were certainly further operations in the northern part of The Ardiaean State for Anicius placed garrisons in some towns, citadels and fortresses. These include the cities of Issa, Rhizon and Olcinium and the tribal states of the Daorsi and the Pirustae. Some came over to Rome on their own accord while other places such as Pharos were reduced by force and their property looted.