This article is about the specific polity Epirus and therefore only includes events related to its territory and not to its possessions or colonies. If you are interested in the possession, this is the link to the article about the nation which includes all possessions as well as all the different incarnations of the nation.
If you are looking for the page with the statistics about this polity you can find it here:All Statistics
Was an ancient polity located in the region of the same name, between Greece and Albania.
Establishment
January 369 BC: Ephyra became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Phanote became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Olympa became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Torone (Epeiros) became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: The Molossian Aeacidae dynasty managed to create the first centralized state in Epirus from about 370 BC onwards.
January 369 BC: Batiai became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Boucheta became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Dodona became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Elateia (Epeiros) became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Elea became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Eurymenai (Epeiros) became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Gitana became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Passaron became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
January 369 BC: Phoinike became part of Epirus in 370 BC, when the region unified into a single state ruled by the dynasty of the Aeacides.
Chronology
Interactive Chronologies with maps are available in the section Changes Navigation
Expansion of Macedonia under King Philip II.
January 349 BC: Some scholars date from 350 BC the Macedonian direct control of Tymphaea, another border area between Epirus and Macedon.
April 342 BC: Philip certainly campaigned against the Epirote Cassopaeans in early 342 BC, taking control of three coastal cities (Pandosia, Elateia and Bucheta) to secure the southern regions of his kingdom.
January 335 BC: Pandosia was conquered in -336 by Philip II of Macedonia.
January 335 BC: The territory referred to is the city of Thebes, which was conquered in -336 from Philip II of Macedonia by his son, Alexander the Great. This event marked the end of Theban independence and its incorporation into the Kingdom of Macedonia.
1.1.Philip II's campaign in Greece (Fourth Sacred War)
Was the military campaign of Macedonia king Philip II in Greece during the Fourth Sacred War.
August 338 BC: Philip II of Macedon advanced into Boeotia in an attempt to march on Thebes and Athens.
January 337 BC: The battle of Chaeronea (338 BC) was fought in 338 BC, in Boeotia, between Macedonia under Philip II and an alliance of city-states led by Athens and Thebes. The battle ended with a decisive victory of the Macedonians. Philip had no intention of conquering any territory and soon the Macedonian armies left southern Greece. After the battle, Macedon established hegemony over the majority of Southern Greece (except Sparta).
Were a series of conflicts that were fought between the generals of Alexander the Great, known as the Diadochi, over who would rule his empire following his death.
2.1.Consolidation of the borders after the Third War of the Diadochi
Were a series of events and military operations after the Third war of the Diadochi that led to the consolidation of the borders between the successor states of the Macedonian Empire.
January 295 BC: Supported by Ptolemy, Pyrrhos regains control of Epiros.
January 293 BC: In 294 BC, after forty-three years of semi-autonomy under Macedonian suzerainty, Ambracia was given by the son of Cassander to Pyrrhus, king of Epirus.
January 293 BC: Pyrrhus, King of Epirus, after Pyrrhus took control of the border region of Ambracia.
January 291 BC: Pyrrhus marches through Thessaly to Thermopylae.
February 291 BC: Counter-offensive against Pyrrhus by Antigonid ruler Demetrius, who conquers Boeotia and passes through Epirus.
2.2.Fourth War of the Diadochi
Was a war between Macedonian generals that saw Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Cassander fight against Antigonus and Demetrios.
November 302 BC: Pyrrhus of Epirus was dethroned by Cassander of Macedonia.
2.3.Fifth War of the Diadochi
Was a war between Macedonian Generals that saw Ptolemy, Lysimachus and Seleucus fight against Demetrios.
January 285 BC: Demetrius was ultimately captured by Seleucus, drinking himself to death two years later. Lysimachus and Pyrrhus divided the Kingdom between them.
2.4.Consolidation of the borders after the Fifth War of the Diadochi
Were a series of events and military operations after the Fifth war of the Diadochi that led to the consolidation of the borders between the successor states of the Macedonian Empire.
January 284 BC: Pyrrhos was a Greek general and statesman who ruled Epirus, while Antigonos Gonatas was a Macedonian king. Lysimachus was a general under Alexander the Great who later became king of Thrace and Macedonia. The defeat of Pyrrhos and Antigonos Gonatas by Lysimachus in -285 led to the annexation of Macedonia by the Kingdom of Lysimachus.
Was a war between the Roman Republic and the Kingdom of Epirus.
3.1.Sicilian Expedition (Pyrrhic War)
Was a military expedition of Pyrrhus, the ruler of Epirus, in Sicily.
January 276 BC: In -277 BC, the Greek general Pyrrhus of Epirus besieged the city of Eryx, which was heavily fortified and defended by Carthaginian forces. Despite the challenges posed by the natural defenses and the large garrison, Pyrrhus eventually succeeded in capturing the city through a determined assault.
January 276 BC: In -277, Iaetia surrendered without a fight to King Pyrrhus of Epirus. Pyrrhus was a renowned military leader known for his costly victories, leading to the term "Pyrrhic victory." This conquest expanded the territory of Epirus in ancient Greece.
January 276 BC: In -277, the city of Panormus was taken by storm by the forces of Pyrrhus, the King of Epirus. Pyrrhus was a renowned military leader who sought to expand his kingdom by conquering various territories in Sicily. The capture of Panormus was a significant victory for Pyrrhus in his campaign to establish dominance in the region.
January 276 BC: Pyrrhus subdued the areas under Carthaginian control. After seizing Eryx he moved against the Mamertine mercenaries who had seized Messana.
January 276 BC: Pyrrhus went to Sicily and took the leadership of the Greek cities of eastern and southern Sicily in a war against the Carthaginians. Diodorus related that Pyrrhus defeated the Carthaginian garrison in Heraclea Minoa and seized Azones. Selinus, Halicyae, Segesta and other cities went over to him.
January 275 BC: While Pyrrhus was besieging this city, the Carthaginians brought over a big army and large quantities of grain from Africa.
January 275 BC: Molossian king Pyrrhus leaves Sicily.
March 275 BC: End of Lilybaeum siege.
April 275 BC: Molossian king Pyrrhus leaves Sicily.
Were a series of wars fought by the Roman Republic in Illyria (the Adriatic coast of the Balkanic Peninsula) first to eradicate piracy and then to conquer the region.
4.1.First Illyrian War
Was a war fought by the Romans in Illyria mainly against the Ardiaean Kingdom.
January 228 BC: The army now moved inland among the Illyrian peoples of the hinterland. Here, the Romans received delegations from many peoples, including the Atintani and Parthini, from whom a formal surrender was accepted.
4.2.Second Illyrian War
Was a war fought by the Romans in Illyria mainly against the Ardiaean Kingdom.
January 218 BC: The victorious Roman occupy Issa (modern-day Vis Island), Pharos (today's Stari Grad), Apollonia, Corcyra, Epidamnus, Oricum, Dimale (belonging to the Parthine tribe) and Atintania. The Roman Senate confirmed the protectorate of Rome over Illyria.
Were a seris of conflicts between the Roman Republic and Antigonid Macedonia over control of Greece and the eastern Mediterranean Basin. .
5.1.Third Macedonian War
Was a war fought by Rome against Antigonid Macedonia. The war was won by Rome, and Macedonia was divided in four client states of Rome.
January 169 BC: Epirus, on the west coast of Greece, went over to the Macedonians.
January 350 BC: The presence of the city of Byllis is attested to the mid-fourth century BC.
January 350 BC: The earliest of the written sources that mention the toponym Amantia is the Periplus of Pseudo-Skylax (4th century BC).
January 350 BC: Orraon was founded in the 4th century BC while Alcetas I was king.
January 350 BC: Inscriptions at both Byllis and Nikaia begin in the middle of the 4th century BC and are related to a polis-like organization.
January 340 BC: Orikos was a polis from the middle IV century onwards.
January 340 BC: Kassopa was a greek polis in the ancient region of Epeiros from the middle IV century BC onwards (based on archeological evidence of the city fortifications).
January 332 BC: When Alexander of Epirus arrived in Southern Italy in approximately 333 BC he took the city from the Bruttians.
January 330 BC: Alexander of Epirus did not possess the city of Terina for long because he was defeated by a combined army of Bruttians and Lucanians at the Battle of Pandosia in 331 BC.
January 329 BC: Pandosia conquered by Epirus.
January 280 BC: King Pyrrhus of Epirus conquered the Athamanians in 281 BC.
January 271 BC: The Athamanians freed themselves from Epirote domain.
January 204 BC: Ambracia joined the Aetolian League.
Disestablishment
January 169 BC: Epirus, on the west coast of Greece, went over to the Macedonians.
Selected Sources
Cawkwell, G. (1978): Philip II of Macedon, London (UK), p. 142
Cawkwell, G. (1978): Philip II of Macedon, London (UK), pp. 147-166
Hansen, M. G. / Nielsen, T. H. (2004): An inventory of archaic and classic polities, Oxford University Press, pp. 1328-1337
Hansen, M. G. / Nielsen, T. H. (2004): An inventory of archaic and classic polities, Oxford University Press, pp. 1368-1375
Epirus
