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Illyrians


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What particular 'units' did the Illyrians have? The Emperor series by Conn Iggulden suggests they paint themselves blue and are very similar to the british. RTW seems to suggest they are just javelin throwing peltasts and falx wielders. Any thoughts?

 

vtc

Edited by Vibius Tiberius Costa
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They were pirates and the design for roman libourne warship comes from them.

They also fought a lot against Macedonia and Epirus.

If they succeded raiding Macedonia they must have had something better then peltasts. Some heavier soldiers with spear, sword, shield, helmet and breastplate to hold the line were common in the Balkans for a long time. Cavalry man were common also (the cult of the Thracian Knight was spreaded along the lower Danube until christianity when it became absorbed in Saint George). Archery was also well spreaded.

But with barbarians it's hard to establish units types. Everyone fought with what he had or liked and the units were based on political divisions (family, clan, tribe etc) rather then on centrally standardized equipment like Athens, Macedon or Rome had. I say this not for Illyrians, but for all barbarians, especially in the Balkans where they could see many types of armies from hoplite phalanxes to steppe horsearchers.

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