The Illyrians (Ancient Greek: Ἰλλυριοί, Illyrioi; Latin: Illyrii) were a conglomeration of Indo-European peoples and tribes in the Balkan Peninsula, Southeastern Europe.
Illyrian tribes
| Tribe | Description |
|---|---|
| Abroi | |
| Albanoi | The Albanoi populated the region between the Mat and Shkumbin. Their chief settlement was Albanopolis located in Zgërdhesh, near Krujë. |
| Amantes | Also referred to as the Amantieis or Amantini, the Amantes lived in the inland region of the Bay of Vlorë. |
| Ardiaei | The Ardiaei lived in a region between Konjic on the north, the Neretva on the west, Lake Shkodër to the southeast and the Adriatic Sea on the south. The chief settlements of the Ardiaean State were Rhizon and Scodra. |
| Armistae | |
| Arthitae | |
| Autariatae | The Autariatae, alternatively known as Autariatai or Autariates, inhabited the valleys of Lim, Tara and West Morava within the Accursed Mountains. |
| Balaites | |
| Baridustae | |
| Bathiatae | The Bathiatae were located among today's modern Bosna River which was once known as Bathinus flumen and they took their name from this river. |
| Bylliones | |
| Cavii | The Cavii lived close to Lake Shkodër. Their main settlement was Epicaria, which is thought to be probably located around modern-day Pukë. |
| Dalmatae | The Dalmatae lived in the region of Dalmatia. |
| Daorsi | The Daorsi lived in the valley of Neretva. |
| Dardani | The Dardani lived in the Kosovo and areas around it. |
| Dassareti | |
| Daunians | |
| Deraemestae | |
| Deretini | |
| Deuri | |
| Dindari | The Dindari were of Celtic influence and lived on the western bank of the Drina Valley, close to Skelani and Srebrenica. |
| Docleatae | |
| Dyestes | |
| Enchele | |
| Endirudini | |
| Grabaei | |
| Iapydes | |
| Kinambroi | |
| Labeatae | |
| Mazaei | |
| Melcumani | |
| Messapians | |
| Narensi | |
| Ozuaei | |
| Parthini | |
| Penestae | |
| Peucetians | |
| Pleraei | |
| Sardiatae | |
| Sasaei | |
| Selepitani | |
| Tariotes | |
| Taulantii | The Taulantii or Taulantians were are among the most archaic attested Illyrian peoples. They inhabited the region across the hinterland of Dyrrhachion-Epidamnos between the valleys of Mat and Shkumbin. |
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- Antitani / Atintanes / Atintani? (Illyrian Atintani)
- Dassaretae (Dassareti)?
- Turboletae
Pannonians
Eastern group
Western group
Paeonians
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There are different views and still no agreement among scholars about the Paeonians/Paeones ethnic and linguistic kinship. Some such as Wilhelm Tomaschek and Paul Kretschmer claim that the language spoken by the Paeonians belonged to the Illyrian family, while Dimitar Dechev claims affinities with Thracian. Irwin L. Merker considers that the language spoken by the Paeonians was closely related to Greek (and ancient Macedonian if it was a distinct language from ancient Greek), a Hellenic language with "a great deal of Illyrian and Thracian influence as a result of this proximity".[1]
- Agrianes[2] (also, Agriani and Agrii) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian)
- Almopians[3] (also Almopioi)
- Derrones[4] (also Derroni) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian)
- Doberes[5]
- Laeaeans[2] (also Laeaei and Laiai)
- Odomantes[6] (also Odomanti) (it is also claimed that this tribe was Thracian)[7]
- Paeoplae[8]
- Siropaiones[9]