Glaucias

Fictional-romanticizing portrayal of Glaukias in the Albanian capital Tirana

Glaukias († 302 BC ) was an Illyrian king from the Taulantier tribe . He ruled from 317 to 302.335 BC. Glaukias first becomes historically tangible when he supported the Illyrian prince Cleitus in the fight against Alexander the great of Macedonia. They were defeated by the Macedonians and had to retreat to the Taulantier area.

In 317 Glaukias was able to rise to the rank of King of the Taulantier. He then sought an alliance with the Molossian kingdom of Epiros . Glaukias therefore granted asylum to the Molossian prince Pyrrhos I and also adopted him in order to build up this pretender to the throne against the Promakedon party in Epiros. Pyrrhus later actually became king in Epiros.

King Cassander of Macedonia requested the extradition of Pyrrhus and offered Glaukias money for it. However, this refused. In 314 the Taulantier under Glaukias were attacked and defeated by Kassander. Cassander claimed Dyrrachium and Apollonia on the Adriatic coast for Macedonia and forced Glaukias to an unfavorable peace treaty with Macedonia and its Greek allies. Pyrrhus, the adopted son of Glaucias, remained at his court.

The hostilities with the Greek cities Epidamnos and Apollonia continued and in 312 BC. With the help of the dungeons Glaukias could at least subdue Epidamnos.

After the death of the Epirotian king Alketas II , Glaukias marched into Epirus with an army in 307 and put the twelve-year-old Pyrrhus I on the throne of the Molossians .

literature

• Edward Herbert Bunbury: Glaucias . In: William Smith (Ed.): Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology . tape 2 : Ea'rinus, Fla'vius – Nyx . Little, Brown and Company, Boston 1870, p. 273 (English, Textarchiv - Internet Archive ).
• Pierre Cabanes: Les Illyriens de Bardylis à Genthios (IVe - IIe siècles avant J.-C.) (= Regards sur l'histoire. 65). Paris 1988, ISBN 2-7181-3841-6 .