Bardylis united many southern Illyrian tribes under his realm and defeated the Macedonians and Molossians several times, expanding his dominion over upper Macedonia, including Lynkestis, and ruling over Macedon through a puppet king.
15 Facts About Bardylis
1.
2.
Bardylis led raids against Epirus, but his soldiers were eventually expelled from the region.
3.
Illyrians, in particular under Bardylis' leadership, held a remarkable role in the development of the Argead Macedonian military.
4.
Bardylis did not succeed Sirras, but rather the previous Illyrian king who had entered into a peace treaty with Amyntas II over the control of Lynkestis.
5.
Bardylis succeeded in bringing the various Illyrian tribes together and soon made his kingdom a formidable power in the Balkans, resulting in a change in relations with Macedon.
6.
The distribution of the coins suggest that Bardylis built up trade within the central Balkans and northwards to the Danube, which was far from the areas dominated by the Greek traders.
7.
Dionysius of Syracuse tried to take advantage of Bardylis's growing trade when he established colonies in the Adriatic.
8.
Bardylis was an ambitious Illyrian ruler, who after seeing a sign in a dream, embarked on a series of military victories which allowed him to extend Illyrian rule over the Molossians and other regional tribes, as far as the frontiers of Macedon.
9.
Bardylis used new warfare tactics never before used by any of the Illyrians.
10.
Bardylis won a decisive battle against Amyntas III, expelled him, and ruled Macedon through a puppet king.
11.
In 369 BC, Bardylis prevented Alexander II from eliminating the Illyrians from Macedonia.
12.
In 385 BC, the Illyrians, who at that time were under Bardylis' rule, formed an alliance with the powerful tyrant Dionysius of Syracuse.
13.
Bardylis was not inclined to give up his gains without a fight.
14.
Bardylis initially deployed in a linear formation with his strongest troops in the centre, similar to the phalanx formation.
15.
Bardylis himself was probably killed in this battle as he rode on horseback at the advanced age of 90.