TheAutariatae orAutariatai (alternatively,Autariates;Ancient Greek:Αὐταριᾶται,Autariatai;Latin:Autariatae) were anIllyrianpeople that lived between the valleys of theLim and theTara, beyond theAccursed Mountains, and the valley ofWest Morava. Their territory was located inland from theArdiaei and theLake Skodra, extending east to theDardani and north or northeast to theTriballi.[2]
Along with the Ardiaei and the Dardani, the Autariatae are mentioned byStrabo in hisGeographica as one of the three strongest Illyrian peoples in the pre-Roman Balkans.[3][4] Following defeat during theCeltic invasions of the Balkans in the 4th century, a part of the Autariatae who remained in Bosniaadopted Celtic culture later in their history.[5] Another part moved southwards and after an agreement with theKingdom of Macedonia, 20,000 settled in theParorbelian mountain range, in the borderlands between modern southeastern North Macedonia, northern Greece and southwestern Bulgaria.[6]
An Illyrian people named Αὐταριᾶται,Autariatai was firstly recorded in thePeriplus of Pseudo-Skylax dating back to the middle of the 4th century BC.[7] According to a mythological tradition reported byAppian (2nd century AD), the Autariatae descended from a common progenitor calledAutarieus, one of the sons ofIllyrius, the eponymous ancestor of all theIllyrian peoples.[8][9] The nameAutariatae has been connected to thehydronym andoronymTara. TheTara river andTara mountain are both considered to have been located in Autariatan territory.[1][10]
The Autariatan communities unified into a single political entity that can be called with the collective name Autariatae in the period 6th – 4th centuries BC.[11] They began to expand eastward into territories controlled by theTriballi. Moreover, they expanded southward where they defeated theArdiaei, their old rivals,[12] in struggles for control over pastures and salty springs.[13] Activities of the Autariatae at the turn of the 6th and 5th centuries BC profoundly influenced the peoples who were directly affected by their expansion. TheArdiaei were moved toward the coasts and theTriballi to the east. The expansion of the Autariatae enabled them to achieve hegemonic control over one part of the interior of the Balkan Peninsula. The leading class of the Autariatae society reached the peak of its political and economic development indicated through many great luxurious royal tumuli and graves created during the 5th century BC.Strabo’s comment on the Autariatae as "the once greatest and most powerful Illyrian people" most likely refers to this period. Their peak of development was followed by the gradual decline of the Autariatae ending in 310 BC with their sudden disappearance[14] due toCeltic migrations.[15]
As reported by ancient historianArrian, the Autariatae were one of the three Illyrian tribes that made war againstAlexander the Great during his335 BC campaign.[16] Although modern historians usually assume that the Autariatae and the southern Illyrians were undertaking a joint attack against the Macedonians, it is not explicitly stated by Arrian.[17] Arrian reports that Alexander received news of a revolt undertaken by the Illyrian chieftain Cleitus, aided byGlaukias, king of theTaulantii, while the Autariatae were preparing to ambush the main force of Macedon during Alexander's absence. Macedonian allyLangarus, king of theAgrianes, with Alexander's approval invaded the territory of Autariatae preventing their attack to Macedon. Alexander did not wait the end of Langarus' conflict, but instead quickly moved southward.[18] Langarus took by surprise the Autariatae and plundered their land. After his victory, Langarus returned to his kingdom with rich spoils. According to a modern interpretation, Arrian's account concerning Autariatae's aim to attack Macedonia was likely introduced into writing as a pretext to justify Langaru's raid against Autariatae. The Agrianian king's demand to raid and pillage the Autariatae would have been granted by Alexander because the Macedonian king considered him a trustworthy ally.[19] Arrian mentions in his accounts that the Autariate were a tribe without a king. He also states that Langarus described them as "the least warlike" people,[17] on the other hand this statement is contradicted byStrabo's accounts, which describe the Autariatae as an expanding tribe of conquerors.[20]
Appian (95 – 165) writes that theArdiaei were destroyed by the Autariatae and that in contrast to the Autariatae had maritime power.[21] He also reports that the Autariatae were punished byApollo for raiding thePythian Oracle together with the CelticCimbri, after which moment they migrated to the lands of theGetae near the tribe ofBastarnae.[22] This could be an explanation why the Autariatae "disappear" after 310 B.C., according to Wilkes. The ancient geographer, Strabo, lists the Autariatae as one of the three strongest tribes - the other two being theArdiaei and theDardanii.
The Autariatae and the CelticScordisci are thought to have merged into one tribe in the Lower Morava valley, after 313 BC, since excavations show that the two groups made burials at the same exact grave field inPecine, nearKostolac.[23] Nine graves of Autariatae dating to 4th century BC and scattered Autariatae andCeltic graves around these earlier graves show that the two groups mixed rather than made war[24] and this resulted in the lower Morava valley becoming aCelto-Thraco-Illyrian interaction zone.[25]
A standard practice of the Autariatae entailed killing their weak and wounded. This was meant to prevent meek individuals from falling into the hands of their enemies.[26] This practice perhaps was motivated by the superstitious belief that the enemy, by drinking the blood of prisoners and by eating parts of their bodies containing their virtues, would become even stronger and acquire a special power over the entire community of the Autariatae.[27]
The Autariatae left a legacy of material wealth. So far, more than 100[citation needed] castle ruins were identified to have been inhabited by the Autariatae, as well as thousands[citation needed] of tumuli in which they had been buried. Movable materials (mostly jewelry and weapons) reveal all specific features associated with the ethno-cultural originality of the Autariatae. The Autariatae established a continuous tradition of manufacturing metal and ceramic products. Artifacts consisting of metal sheets with luxurious golden and silverbelts of Mramorac type indicate the complexity of this tradition.[28]
The Autariatae are a classic example of a "highland" people who also show all the characteristics of a "highland" mentality (i.e. preservation of old beliefs).[citation needed] Case in point, the Autariatae have strongly maintained their burial customs of burning the dead in tumuli, which did not change until the end of theGlasinac culture.[citation needed] Archaeological remains indicate that the religious life of the Autariatae was influenced by both their ancestor cult and the cult of their solar god.[citation needed] One can find the numerous evidence of the solar cult throughout the territories once controlled by the Autariatae.[citation needed] The Autariatae economy was based on cattle breeding, metalwork, handicraft and trade. Because of its need forGreek andItalic goods, this Illyrian tribe was one of the biggest trade partners of the western and central Balkans to both Greek and Italic traders between the 7th and 6th centuries BC.[citation needed]
