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Composite Bust of Queen Teuta of Illyria (CC BY-SA 4.0) Romanized Liburnus war ship (Public Domain)

Historians’ Gender Bias Accounts Of Illyrian Queen Teute’s Roman Encounter

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In a clash of ego’s Teute, a third century BC widowed queen regent of the Ardiaei tribe of Illyria, faced off a Roman envoy, who challenged her policy on piracy, yet historians Polybius’ and Cassius Dio’s gender bias labelled her rage towards the Romans’ arrogance as female weakness, which, in their opinion, justified the First Roman-Illyrian War.

Kingdom of Agron of the Ardiaei and neighboring kingdoms (MaryroseB54/ CC BY-SA 4.0)

Kingdom of Agron of the Ardiaei and neighboring kingdoms (MaryroseB54CC BY-SA 4.0)

Located in western Europe's Balkan Peninsula, Illyria corresponds to modern-day Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Montenegro, Kosovo, Serbia, and Albania. Despite several notable ancient tribes in the region, it was the Ardiaei, centred on the coastal part of Illyria, who rose to prominence during the third century BC. From 250 to 231 BC, the Ardiaean Kingdom expanded, led by King Agron, son of Pleuratus II, the founder of the Ardiaean Kingdom and the Ardiaean Dynasty, that ruled over much of the Adriatic coast for the next century. When Agron became king, he strengthened the Illyrian navy in the Mediterranean Sea and expanded his control all along the Adriatic coast. This approach was evidently successful as his kingdom rose to prominence, culminating in a decisive victory over Greece's Aetolians in 232 or 231 BC. Delighted by his victory, Agron celebrated his triumph with so much drinking and other vices that he suffered pleurisy and died in 231 BC.

Modern statue of Teuta with her stepson Pinnes in Tirana, Albania (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Modern statue of Teuta with her stepson Pinnes in Tirana, Albania (CC BY-SA 3.0)

Agron had two known wives, Tritueta and Teuta, and one infant son from Tritueta, whom he had divorced. His infant son, Pinnes, succeeded him and was recognized as king for the next 13 years. Agron’s second wife, Teuta, acted as a regent for Pinnes and sat on the Ardiaean throne. Teuta proceeded to continue her husband’s expansionist aspirations by focusing on the prosperous cities of Dyrrachium and Phoenice, both of which she eventually conquered. However, Teuta’s most feared forces, probably even more than her powerful navy, were the Illyrian pirates. It was also inadvertently  the Illyrian pirates who would be the cause of her downfall.

Model of an Illyrian ship called lemb (A.jobs02/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Model of an Illyrian ship called lemb (A.jobs02/CC BY-SA 4.0)

Piracy: A Respectable Business

Piracy and seafaring in the ancient world, was practiced on a relatively simple tandem principle. As merchant ships were usually overloaded and needed to be seaworthy at all times, they always hugged the coast lines to help with navigation, however the downside was this positioning made them easy prey for pirates to pillage them.

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Martini Fisher is an Ancient Historian and author of many books, including "Horatio’s World” / Check out MartiniFisher.com

Top image: Composite Bust of Queen Teuta of Illyria (CC BY-SA 4.0) Romanized Liburnus war ship (Public Domain)

By: Martini Fisher

 

Comments

"In a clash of ego’s Teute..."

Grammatical errors happen. However, the very first sentence is not the best place for them, especially from an academic. 'In a clash of ego, Teute...' would suffice.

But what would I know? I'm an Australian technical school drop-out.

MartiniF's picture

Martini

Martini Fisher comes from a family of history and culture buffs. She graduated from Macquarie University, Australia, with a degree in Ancient History. Although her interest in history is diverse, Martini is especially interested in  mythologies, folklores and ancient funerary... Read More

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