Liburnian thalassocracy Illyrian warfare

map of corfu, liburnians southern recorded outpost

navigable skills , mobility of liburnians on swift ships, liburna allowed them present, early, not along eastern adriatic coast, reached opposite, western, italic coast. process started during great pannonian-adriatic movements , migrations @ end of bronze age, 12th 10th century bc. in iron age, in italic coast, establishing colonies in apulia , in picenum, specific iron age cultures developed.

from 9th 6th century bc there koine – cultural unity in adriatic, general liburninan seal, naval supremacy meant both political , economical authority through several centuries. similar toponyms attested not liburnian other illyrian migrations central , south italy, respectively apulia , picenum.

in 9th century bc ruled inner adriatic sea , in first half of 8th century bc expanded southwards. according strabo, liburnians became masters of island of corcyra, making southern outpost, controlled passage adriatic sea. in 735 bc, abandoned it, under pressure of corinthian ruler hersikrates, during period of corinthian expansion south italy, sicily , ionian sea. however, position in adriatic sea still strong in next few centuries. corinth first went against liburnians. bacchiade expelled liburni , eretrians corcyra. 625 bc, taulantii asked aid of corinth , corcyra against liburni. greeks victorious.

liburnian control of adriatic sea coasts started decrease in 6th century bc. according pliny elder, liburnians lost supremacy in western adriatic coast due invasion of umbri , gauls, caused strengthening , expansion of etruscan union in 6th century bc, rich material presence in basin of po river, undoubtedly meant weakening of liburnian thalassocracy influence in north-west of adriatic. celtic breaks italian peninsula, after 400 bc, changed ethnic , political picture there, directly imperiled remaining liburnian possessions on western coast.

unlike @ western adriatic coast, celtic raids narrow liburnian region @ eastern adriatic coast peripheral in geographical meaning. despite of recorded material exchange, celtic archaeological forms marginal , secondary in regions settled histri, iapodes, dalmatae , rare in liburnian iron age heritage.