Illyria

views updated May 23 2018

Illyria an ancient region along the east coast of the Adriatic Sea, including Dalmatia and what is now Montenegro and northern Albania, subsequently the Roman province of Illyricum, and later divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia. It was overrun by the Huns and the Visigoths between the 3rd and 5th centuries ad.

The name was revived, as the Illyrian Provinces, in 1809 after Napoleon's defeat of the Austrians and the annexation of the region to France. The region was reclaimed by Austria in 1814, retaining its identity as the kingdom of Illyria until 1849.

Illyria

views updated May 23 2018

Illyria Historic region on the n and e shores of the Adriatic Sea, now mainly in Albania. The tribes of Illyria were conquered by the Romans after 168 bc, and the region was later divided into the provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia. Several late Roman emperors were of Illyrian origin.