Scerdilaidas

Scerdilaidas (Greek: Σκερδιλαΐδας; ruled 218–206 BC) was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom. Before taking the throne Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a major role in the Illyrian Wars against the Romans.

Scerdilaidas was one of the youngest brothers of Agron and father of Pleuratus III and grandfather of Gentius. Scerdilaids took part in many expeditions in the Ionian and Aegean with Demetrius and his brother-in-law Amyna. During his early reign Scerdilaidas was an ally of Rome. In 217 BC Scerdilaidas later adopted Roman rule and became an enemy of Macedonia for parleying with Rome. With the Romans preoccupied in their war with the Carthage, Philip V of Macedon sought to take southern Illyria from Skerdilaidas and made several advancements into the Ardiaean State from 214 BC to 210 BC. However, Philip had more than just the Romans to worry about.

Macedon was a hated presence in the Mediterranean and so the Aetolians and the Dardanians under Longarus joined with Skerdilaidas to defeat Philip V in 208 BC. With no chance of victory, the Macedonian king accepted peace in 205 BC. Unlike most other Illyrian kings of which there is only sparse data, Scerdilaidas is mentioned in the writings of the historian Appian, Livy and Polybius, and in their chronicles of the Roman and Greek wars.