Grabos
Encyclopedia
Grabos was an Illyrian king of the Grabaei State. Grabos also spelt Grabus, was the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardyllis
in 358 BC. He was from the royal house of Grabaei although this tribe may have been incorporated into the Taulantii State realm in which Grabos became king The Grabaei State was a minor Illyrian State located in region of Mirdite near Lake Scutari
in the northern part of present Albania
. The region was and is rich with copper, and iron deposits and its eartern territories marched with Philip's sphere of influence in the western lakeland.
Grabos a homonymous king, was a descendant of the previous King Grabus
, with whom Athens
entered into alliance when she was active in the region of Epidamnus in the 430's BC. Grabos was defeated by Philip II
forces in 358/7 BC. the king began began negotiating with Olynthus, probably offering to re-establish the Chalcydic link with the silver mines of Damastion
near Lake Lynchnitis, served by Philips recent annexation of the area. Grabos thus allied himself briefly with the Chalcidian League although this treaty was soon terminated. The unfinished state of the treaty of alliance between the two has been found at Olynthus
. The unfinished state of the inscription and the fact that it had been thrwon into a riverbed probably suggests that the treaty was never ratified. The Olynthians found alliance more attractive.
Later in 356 BC
with Athens, the Paeonian king Lyppeius and the Thracian king Cetriporis
. This coalition at the behest of the Athenians was to resist the growing power of the Macedonias whom the Athenians feared. Philip took his enemies by the united force by surprise. Philip sending his general, Parmenio, was able to act on this coalition before they had a chance to converge. In the summer of 356 BC Grabos was defeated by Parmenio in a major battle and he was forced to ally himself with Macedonians.
This victory isolated the Taulantii State and the Parthini, who perforce became allies of Philip II. He conciliated his advance by building fortified posts in Illyria. Grabos is not heard off after his defeat. Grabos was succeeded by Pleuratus I.
Bardyllis
Bardyllis was a king of the Dardanian Kingdom and probably its founder.Bardyllis created one of the most powerful Illyrian states, that of the Dardanians...
in 358 BC. He was from the royal house of Grabaei although this tribe may have been incorporated into the Taulantii State realm in which Grabos became king The Grabaei State was a minor Illyrian State located in region of Mirdite near Lake Scutari
Lake Scutari
Lake Skadar, also called Lake Scutari and Lake Shkodër is a lake on the border of Montenegro with Albania, the largest lake in the Balkan Peninsula. It is named after the city of Shkodra in northern Albania .- Geography :...
in the northern part of present Albania
Albania
Albania , officially known as the Republic of Albania , is a country in Southeastern Europe, in the Balkans region. It is bordered by Montenegro to the northwest, Kosovo to the northeast, the Republic of Macedonia to the east and Greece to the south and southeast. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea...
. The region was and is rich with copper, and iron deposits and its eartern territories marched with Philip's sphere of influence in the western lakeland.
Grabos a homonymous king, was a descendant of the previous King Grabus
Grabus
Grabus was an Illyrian king of the Taulantii State. Grabus took an important part in the civil war of Durrës in 437 BC which sparked off the Pelopponesian War. He became an ally of Athens at the time against Corinth...
, with whom Athens
Athens
Athens , is the capital and largest city of Greece. Athens dominates the Attica region and is one of the world's oldest cities, as its recorded history spans around 3,400 years. Classical Athens was a powerful city-state...
entered into alliance when she was active in the region of Epidamnus in the 430's BC. Grabos was defeated by Philip II
Philip II of Macedon
Philip II of Macedon "friend" + ἵππος "horse" — transliterated ; 382 – 336 BC), was a king of Macedon from 359 BC until his assassination in 336 BC. He was the father of Alexander the Great and Philip III.-Biography:...
forces in 358/7 BC. the king began began negotiating with Olynthus, probably offering to re-establish the Chalcydic link with the silver mines of Damastion
Damastion
Damastion was an ancient city in the area of central Balkans. Various sites in Serbia and Macedonia and Albania have been considered as the location of this ancient town....
near Lake Lynchnitis, served by Philips recent annexation of the area. Grabos thus allied himself briefly with the Chalcidian League although this treaty was soon terminated. The unfinished state of the treaty of alliance between the two has been found at Olynthus
Olynthus
Olynthus was an ancient city of Chalcidice, built mostly on two flat-topped hills 30–40m in height, in a fertile plain at the head of the Gulf of Torone, near the neck of the peninsula of Pallene, about 2.5 kilometers from the sea, and about 60 stadia Olynthus was an ancient city of...
. The unfinished state of the inscription and the fact that it had been thrwon into a riverbed probably suggests that the treaty was never ratified. The Olynthians found alliance more attractive.
Later in 356 BC
356 BC
Year 356 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time, it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Ambustus and Laenas...
with Athens, the Paeonian king Lyppeius and the Thracian king Cetriporis
Cetriporis
Cetriporis was a was a king of the Odrysian kingdom in western Thrace from ca. 352 BC, in succession to his father Berisades, with whom he may already have been a co-ruler. He and his father had entered into an alliance with Athens and the Illyrians against Philip II of Macedonia in 358 BC...
. This coalition at the behest of the Athenians was to resist the growing power of the Macedonias whom the Athenians feared. Philip took his enemies by the united force by surprise. Philip sending his general, Parmenio, was able to act on this coalition before they had a chance to converge. In the summer of 356 BC Grabos was defeated by Parmenio in a major battle and he was forced to ally himself with Macedonians.
This victory isolated the Taulantii State and the Parthini, who perforce became allies of Philip II. He conciliated his advance by building fortified posts in Illyria. Grabos is not heard off after his defeat. Grabos was succeeded by Pleuratus I.
Sources
- Harding, Philip. From the End of the Peloponnesian War to the Battle of Ipsus, 1985. ISBN 0521299497