Glaucias
king of the Taulanti State
Years: 360BCE - 300BCE
Glaucias (ruled c. 335–c.
302 BCE) is an Illyrian king of the Taulanti State in the second half of the 4th century BCE.
Glaucias is first mentioned as bringing a considerable force to the assistance of Cleitus of Dardania, another Illyrian prince, against Alexander the Great, in the battle of Pelium 335 BCE.
They aee, however, both defeated, and Cleitus is forced to take refuge within the Taulantian territories, whither Alexander does not pursue him, his attention being called elsewhere by the news of the revolt of Thebes.
We next hear of Glaucias, nearly 20 years later, as affording an asylum to the infant Pyrrus, when his father Aeacides was driven out of Epirus; Glaucias' wife Beroea belonged to the Molossian Aeacidae.
By this measure he gave offense to Cassander, who sought to gain possession of Epirus for himself, and who in vain offered Glaucias 200 talents to give up the child.
Not long after, the Macedonian king invades his territories, and defeats him in battle; but though Glaucias binds himself by the treaty which ensues to refrain from hostilities against the allies of Cassander, he still retains Pyrrhus at his court, and, after the death of Alcetas II of Epirus, in 307 BCE, he takes the opportunity to invade Epirus with an army, and establish the young prince, then twelve years old, upon the throne.
The territories of Glaucias border upon those of Apollonia and Epidamnos, and this proximity involves him in frequent hostilities with those states.
In 312 BCE, he gains control of Epidamnus.
The date of his death is not mentioned, but it appears that he is still reigning in 302 BCE, when Pyrrhus repairs to his court, to be present at the marriage of one of his sons.
