Pleuratus III
Encyclopedia
Pleuratus III was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom. Pleuratus was the son of Scerdilaidas
and nephew of the powerful Agron of Illyria. He bore the same name as his grandfather, Pleuratus II, and his son Gentius
was the last king of the Ardiaean State. Pleuratus continued his father's pro-Roman policy even more decidedly, so much that his loyalty to Rome
was well known, even to other dynasts. He managed to extend the boundaries of the Ardiaean State in the south when he was rewarded land annexed by Philip V. For doing nothing at all, he became the greatest of the Illyrian kings of the time all because of his loyalty to the Romans.
Pleuratus is listed among the parties to the Treaty of Phoenice
in 205 BC
. There is evidence that Pleuratus may have reigned with his father as co-regents prior to 205 BC. He may have been preparing for his future as sole king of the Ardiaean State. By 200 BC Pleuratus was ruling alone when he appeared at the Roman headquarters in Dassaretia offereing to assist the expedition against Macedonia. The Roman consul P. Sulpicius Galba declined the offer but promised to seek Pleuratus' help when his army was in Macedonia. Pleuratus was allied with Bato of Dardania
, and they both invaded Macedonia in 199 BC
. Although Pleuratus invaded the territories of Philip V
at least once, his contribution to Roman victory in 197 BC would appear to be minimal. It was mostly Bato who caused the Macedonians damage and became a greater threat to its northern borders.
Nonetheless in 196 BC Pleuratus was rewarded with possession of the strategic region of Lyncestia, which had been in Macedonian hands for nearly two centuries after the defeat of Bardyllis
in 358 BC. The Ardiaean State was also given control over the Illyrian Parthini, former Roman allies in the Shkumbin
valley and cities in Illyria which had been subdued by Philip. Earlier he had perhaps received some regions formerly controlled by the Ardiaean State and annexed by Philip, although this is not certain. This placed under the control of Pleuratus, the route to attack Macedonia from the west, but the Roman intention was rather to deny control to Macedonia than to signal their regard for Pleuratus. Bato on the other hand was given no territorial gains, such as Paeonia
which the Dardanians had long longed for.
By 189 BC
he was regarded as one of the most ideal client kings of the Romans. in the same year the king of Pergamum and a long standing ally of the Romans, Eumenes
, complained in the Senate that Pleuratus had not deserved so much increase of his power in Illyria
. Euemenes insisted that Pleuratus did not actually do anything for the Romans, his only merit lay in the fact that he did not cause them any damage. Be this as it may, Pleuratus became famous for what he had gained from loyalty to the Romans, and Polybius
reports that in return for doing nothing he was made the greatest of the rulers of Illyria. Pleuratus also had the Dalmatians in northern Illyria under his control which later got their independence when Gentius came to the throne.
Some of Pleuratus' authority, or indeed most of it, was based on a relatively strong fleet of lembi. Pleuratus was permitted to plunder and devastate the coast of Aetloia with sixty lembi during the next round of warfare in 189 BC, but received no gains of territory at the conclusion of hostilities. This was with no doubt done with the knowledge of the Romans or even on their behalf. In 181 BC Pleuratus died and was succedeed by his son, Gentius
. Unlike Pleurtaus, Gentius developed bad relations with Rome and finally fought against them in the Third Illyrian War. Pleuratus had three sons, Gentius and Plator, while Caravantius
was only the son of his wife Eurydice.
Scerdilaidas
Scerdilaidas was an Illyrian king of the Ardiaean Kingdom. Before taking the throne Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a major role in the Illyrian Wars against the Romans....
and nephew of the powerful Agron of Illyria. He bore the same name as his grandfather, Pleuratus II, and his son Gentius
Gentius
Gentius was the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean State. The name appears to derive from PIE *g'en- "to beget", cognate to Latin gens, gentis "kin, clan, race". He was the son of Pleuratus III, a king who kept relations with Rome very strong...
was the last king of the Ardiaean State. Pleuratus continued his father's pro-Roman policy even more decidedly, so much that his loyalty to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
was well known, even to other dynasts. He managed to extend the boundaries of the Ardiaean State in the south when he was rewarded land annexed by Philip V. For doing nothing at all, he became the greatest of the Illyrian kings of the time all because of his loyalty to the Romans.
Pleuratus is listed among the parties to the Treaty of Phoenice
Treaty of Phoenice
The Treaty of Phoenice, also known as the Peace of Phoenice, was a treaty ending the First Macedonian War. It was drawn up at Phoenice in 205 BC....
in 205 BC
205 BC
Year 205 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Africanus and Dives...
. There is evidence that Pleuratus may have reigned with his father as co-regents prior to 205 BC. He may have been preparing for his future as sole king of the Ardiaean State. By 200 BC Pleuratus was ruling alone when he appeared at the Roman headquarters in Dassaretia offereing to assist the expedition against Macedonia. The Roman consul P. Sulpicius Galba declined the offer but promised to seek Pleuratus' help when his army was in Macedonia. Pleuratus was allied with Bato of Dardania
Bato of Dardania
For other uses, see BatoBato was an Illyrian king of the Dardanian State. Bato was the son of Longarus whom he succeeded and the brother of Monunius of Dardania who ruled after him. Bato fought alongside the Romans against Macedon during the Second Macedonian War. Bato is known for using advanced...
, and they both invaded Macedonia in 199 BC
199 BC
Year 199 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Lentulus and Tappulus...
. Although Pleuratus invaded the territories of Philip V
Philip V
Philip V may refer to:* Philip V of Macedon * Philip V of France * Philip II of Spain, also Philip V, Duke of Burgundy * Philip V of Spain...
at least once, his contribution to Roman victory in 197 BC would appear to be minimal. It was mostly Bato who caused the Macedonians damage and became a greater threat to its northern borders.
Nonetheless in 196 BC Pleuratus was rewarded with possession of the strategic region of Lyncestia, which had been in Macedonian hands for nearly two centuries after the defeat of Bardyllis
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. The Ardiaean State was also given control over the Illyrian Parthini, former Roman allies in the Shkumbin
Shkumbin
Shkumbin is a river in central Albania, flowing into the Adriatic Sea. It is considered the dividing line for the two dialects of the Albanian language: Tosk and Gheg ....
valley and cities in Illyria which had been subdued by Philip. Earlier he had perhaps received some regions formerly controlled by the Ardiaean State and annexed by Philip, although this is not certain. This placed under the control of Pleuratus, the route to attack Macedonia from the west, but the Roman intention was rather to deny control to Macedonia than to signal their regard for Pleuratus. Bato on the other hand was given no territorial gains, such as Paeonia
Paeonia
Paeonia or Paionia may refer to:*the generic name of the peony*the ancient tribe and kingdom of Paeonia , in today's northern Greece and the Republic of Macedonia*Paionia , a municipality in northern Greece...
which the Dardanians had long longed for.
By 189 BC
189 BC
Year 189 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. At the time it was known as the Year of the Consulship of Nobilior and Vulso...
he was regarded as one of the most ideal client kings of the Romans. in the same year the king of Pergamum and a long standing ally of the Romans, Eumenes
Eumenes
Eumenes of Cardia was a Thracian general and scholar. He participated in the wars of the Diadochi as a supporter of the Macedonian Argead royal house.-Career:...
, complained in the Senate that Pleuratus had not deserved so much increase of his power in Illyria
Illyria
In classical antiquity, Illyria was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by the Illyrians....
. Euemenes insisted that Pleuratus did not actually do anything for the Romans, his only merit lay in the fact that he did not cause them any damage. Be this as it may, Pleuratus became famous for what he had gained from loyalty to the Romans, and Polybius
Polybius
Polybius , Greek ) was a Greek historian of the Hellenistic Period noted for his work, The Histories, which covered the period of 220–146 BC in detail. The work describes in part the rise of the Roman Republic and its gradual domination over Greece...
reports that in return for doing nothing he was made the greatest of the rulers of Illyria. Pleuratus also had the Dalmatians in northern Illyria under his control which later got their independence when Gentius came to the throne.
Some of Pleuratus' authority, or indeed most of it, was based on a relatively strong fleet of lembi. Pleuratus was permitted to plunder and devastate the coast of Aetloia with sixty lembi during the next round of warfare in 189 BC, but received no gains of territory at the conclusion of hostilities. This was with no doubt done with the knowledge of the Romans or even on their behalf. In 181 BC Pleuratus died and was succedeed by his son, Gentius
Gentius
Gentius was the last Illyrian king of the Ardiaean State. The name appears to derive from PIE *g'en- "to beget", cognate to Latin gens, gentis "kin, clan, race". He was the son of Pleuratus III, a king who kept relations with Rome very strong...
. Unlike Pleurtaus, Gentius developed bad relations with Rome and finally fought against them in the Third Illyrian War. Pleuratus had three sons, Gentius and Plator, while Caravantius
Caravantius
Caravantius, an Illyrian, was half brother to Gentius. He fought with his brother against the Cavi....
was only the son of his wife Eurydice.