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Teuta is a historical figure who isn't very well known, but she made quite an impression during her short rule. The Illyrian queen was ambitious and wanted to extend her sphere of influence, which put her on a collision course with the Roman Republic.
Teuta: Illyria's Pirate Queen
On the eastern shore of the Adriatic there was a kingdom called Illyria, roughly located in present day Albania and Montenegro. It was the most powerful state in the Balkan Peninsula in 231 BCE. Taking the throne at this pivotal time was the queen regent Teuta. She had an unconventional way of governing-she used pirates under her control to harass and attack her state’s enemies, and a share of the booty went to her. If an enemy accused her of piracy she could disavow the pirates and claim that she has nothing to do with them.
In 230 BCE Teuta wanted to expand her sphere of influence, and so she pulled back the restrictions on her privateers, which allowed them to attack any ship or country. The ruthless swashbucklers duly obliged. At one city, for example, they posed as merchants and drew in bargain hunters, and when they were totally distracted, they threw the civilians onto their ships, to sell into slavery later.
While putting down a rebellion, some of her forces attacked Roman citizens, and the Roman Republic sent two ambassadors to ask the queen for compensation and an end to all pirate activities. One of the ambassadors offended her during these negotiations though and on his way home his ship just happened to be boarded by pirates and he was killed. The Romans didn’t take the slight well though, sending a fleet of 200 ships to settle the matter by force.
One of Teuta’s generals, Demetrius, wasn’t on good terms with the queen and was afraid of what she would do to him, so he hastily wrote to the Romans to hand over the city that he was governing. Illyria was finally conquered by 228 BCE and Demetrius was put on the throne, with Teuta having to accept a peace treaty with a special stipulation-she may not sail on an armed ship south of Lissus again.
Thank you for reading!
Teuta is a historical figure who isn't very well known, but she made quite an impression during her short rule. The Illyrian queen was ambitious and wanted to extend her sphere of influence, which put her on a collision course with the Roman Republic.
Teuta: Illyria's Pirate Queen
On the eastern shore of the Adriatic there was a kingdom called Illyria, roughly located in present day Albania and Montenegro. It was the most powerful state in the Balkan Peninsula in 231 BCE. Taking the throne at this pivotal time was the queen regent Teuta. She had an unconventional way of governing-she used pirates under her control to harass and attack her state’s enemies, and a share of the booty went to her. If an enemy accused her of piracy she could disavow the pirates and claim that she has nothing to do with them.
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| A statue of Queen Teuta and her stepson Pinnes in Tirana, Albania. |
In 230 BCE Teuta wanted to expand her sphere of influence, and so she pulled back the restrictions on her privateers, which allowed them to attack any ship or country. The ruthless swashbucklers duly obliged. At one city, for example, they posed as merchants and drew in bargain hunters, and when they were totally distracted, they threw the civilians onto their ships, to sell into slavery later.
While putting down a rebellion, some of her forces attacked Roman citizens, and the Roman Republic sent two ambassadors to ask the queen for compensation and an end to all pirate activities. One of the ambassadors offended her during these negotiations though and on his way home his ship just happened to be boarded by pirates and he was killed. The Romans didn’t take the slight well though, sending a fleet of 200 ships to settle the matter by force.
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| An 18th century illustration that shows Queen Teuta ordering a Roman ambassador to be killed. |
One of Teuta’s generals, Demetrius, wasn’t on good terms with the queen and was afraid of what she would do to him, so he hastily wrote to the Romans to hand over the city that he was governing. Illyria was finally conquered by 228 BCE and Demetrius was put on the throne, with Teuta having to accept a peace treaty with a special stipulation-she may not sail on an armed ship south of Lissus again.
Thank you for reading!
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