ILLYRIANS:

They were known as crafty shipbuilders in ancient times and controlled much of the Adriatic and Ionian Sea using their numerous warships. Illyrians had affective weapons such as the sica, which was a curved-tip sword originating in Illyria but adopted all over the Balkans and later by the Romans.

I saw that you intended to make a pirate unit for them-you can name them dalmatian,dardosi or liburnian pirates because thease three tribes were mostly known in the adriatic sea for their raids of roman ships.

According to Greek writer Herodianus from 3rd century , Illyrians were very strong, tall and always ready to fight but lazy. Strabon reported that Illyrians used tattoos to paint their bodies.

According to Greek historians (they described Dardan tribe) they were very filthy. They would take a bath twice in their life. When they got married and when they died.

Plague and similar diseases were common to Illyirians.

They knew a lot of herbs which they used in healing processes.

Varon wrote that Illyrian women had childbirths with ease.

They used drinks a lot.

FACTION GOALS:
Short-Hold(number) of settelments and destroy or outlive Macedon and Rome.

Why?

Since historically the illyrians were in war with Greek Macedon,Rome(three wars against the Romans!) and from time to time they would get in conflict with Gauls,because the Gauls wanted their lands mostly the city of Aquileia(see the first map-top left)

FACTION LEADER NAMES:
This leaders written here all historically existed-add more by imagination or if you find anything,because this won't be enough or will?

These first five were the most important:

Bardylis(First illyrian king-he was killed by Phillip II,father of Alexander the great)
Glaukias(after the death of alexander the great he freed the illyrian lands of greek rule and drive of the greeks from the city of Skodra,which under his rule become the capital city of Illyria)
Agron(he was the most capable leader-he united the Illyrian tribes and in his rule Illyrian kingdom was the strongest)
Teuta(she was agron's wife.She ruled insted of Agron's young son Pineus.At her time the romans started the war with Illyrians,she lost most of the provinces and she was betrayed by her military commander-Demetrius Hvaranius)
Genthius(last Illyrian king,romans inslaved him and after that Illyria was divided into four parts,which late again become one roman province with the main city Skodra)

Other leaders
Baton
Pineus
Epulon
Grabos
Pleuratus
Pleurias
Monunius
Etuta(daughter of Monunius)
Mytilus
Pleuratus
Pinnes of Pannonia
Baton II
Triteuta(mother of Pinnes)
Skerdilaidas
Gentius
Ballaios
Bardyllis
Audata
Cleitus the Illyrian
Bardylis II
Bircenna(female)
Longarus
Bato of Dardania
Agis
lycceius
Patraus
Audoleon
Ariston
Leon
Dropion
Bastareus
Audata(once wife of Phillip II!!)
Cynane(half sister of Alexander the great!!)

ILLYRIAN CITIES:
You choose which cities will you make I will just post pictures and text!

Important cities of the Illyrians:

Scodra-Capital city of the Illyrians

Rhizon-stronghold of many kings, high degree of Hellenization

Tarsatica-After the romanization of the land the romans turned it into a fort

Salona (central Illyria) was a stronghold and a harbour of the Illyrian Dalmati which quite early came into the sphere of influence of the Greeks on the Adriatic. It was well known for piratical activities. In the Illyrian Wars of 229-228 BCE and 220-219 BCE, Rome overran the Illyrian settlements in the Neretva river valley and suppressed the piracy that had made the Adriatic unsafe for Italian commerce. The Romans were often faced by rebellions of various Illyrian tribes even after 168 BCE when the province of Illyricum was formed. However the majority of sailors in the Roman military navy originated from that area.

Aemona (northern Illyria-Amona on the lowest map); region includes Histrians as Italic-like northern Illyrians (aka Venetic Illyrian tribe). The Romans described the Histrians as a fierce tribe of pirates, protected by the difficult navigation of their rocky coasts. The Romans to conduct their first campaign against them as early as 221 BCE, after they had conquered the north of Italy and the territory of the Veneti who became faithful Roman allies. To strengthen their defences the Romans created the military settlement of Aquileia in 181 BCE, and the Histrians were finally beaten in 181-177 BCE. This region includes also other Illyrian tribes like Liburnians who were renowned seafarers, notorious for their raids in the Adriatic Sea, which they conducted in their swift galleys. Besides there was a mixed Celtic-Illyrian culture in the northern part of the region.

Delminium-Importan for tradeing


These were Liburnian Illyrian cities-In the northern part of their kingdom



These(red) are cities in the southern part of the Illyrian kingdom on te border with the greeks and thracians



A better all round map of Illyria(green border)




ILLYRIAN TRIBES

Here is the position of all Illyrian tribes throughout the Illyrian kingdom



ILLYRIAN RELIGION-GODS(so you can make shrines!)

These aren't all the gods just the most part of them-2-3 are missing!

Illyrian gods were the objects of worship of the Illyrians, an Indo-European people in ancient history who maintained a polytheistic religion. Central to their beliefs was the concept that everything was "born" by Mother Earth, who was represented by the Goddess "Genusus". The name of the goddess is believed to have a relation of the Greek word of "Genesis" which is translated as "the beginning" of an object, or act.(short description!)

List of Gods

Boa
Illyrian deity in serpentine form in Epidaur. His cult has survived until the fourth century AD.This snake was called by the local people with this name precisely (Hieronimi in "Vita Hilarionis" lib.9, scores "Boas vocant sermonte GENTILI quo" - "that people in their language called Boa").-That's why they had snakes illustrated on some of their shields!

Bindus
The god of water and sea,the equivalent of Poseidon or Neptune.

Thana
she is a goddess of beasts,hunting and moon-similar to the greek Artemis

Anzotica
She was a goddess that in terms of belief, seems to have been restricted to the Illyrian tribe of the Liburnae. She's the Illyrian equivalent of Aphrodite/Venus!

Prema
She was the goddess of fertility/birth. Her equivalent in the Greek mythology is Demeter. She is also honored with a week-day; e premte (friday). This is also interesting since the Germanic people have also named Friday after their fertility goddess, freya; examples are Freitag in German, Fredag in Scandinavian languages and Friday in the English language.

Enji - He was the god of fire & war. He's equivalent in Greek & roman mythology might be Ares/Mars.

Dualos - The god/goddess of whine.Dionisius is the greek god of wine

Ika,Boria,Iria- goddesess of rivers

Armatus-god of war

Sylvan-god of forests

Tadenus-God of the Sun

Terminus-god of borders

Medaurus-god of healing

Grabovia- war triumph, war- Illyirians used human sacrifices to this god

ILLYRIAN ARMY:

Liburnian pirates were famed cause they were high skilled archers and seamen.

Dalmatian warriors were most warlike, and easily drawn to fight. They used spear called Sibyna which they thrown before engaging in close combat in which they used very often two weapons in combat, one of them was broad swords (celtic influence). Dalmatians were great smiths and their soldiers had high quality armor. Combination leather and metal. Something like splint mail.

Illyirians used shields quite often.

Japodes warriors were great ambushers. Bloodthirsty barbarians, used axes and swords.

Tautalan soldiers were feared. We can say that they were something like berserkers.

Liburnica navis (liburnian bireme) was respected and Romans used that ship in combat. Fast, agile ships.

Dardans and Breucs were great horsemans .


If there are two names choose the one you like better.

Illyrian pirates

Naked fanatics


Illyrian Noble spearman(these are not hoplites!)


Illyrian footmen or hoplites








Illyrian fighting style didn't very differe from the greek!





Illyrian heavy infantry


Illyrian light infantry

Illyrian heavy peltasts



Illyrian light peltasts or Japodian light peltasts







ilyrian skirmishes


Illyrian light infantry


Illyrian heavy swordsman



Illyrian slinger



Illyrian archer


Illyrian light cavalry



Illyrian heavy cavalry


Illyrian spear warband or illyrian light infantry


so it looks little different from the britons

ILLYRIAN WEAPONS-ARMOR

Illyrian shield symbols



Illyrian bronze helmet


Illyrian pot helmet




Illyrian armor and helmets



small pelta shield


Other shields



Sica sword



Illyrian spears