Cultures > Triballians

Triballians

Background

Introduction to the Triballi

The Triballi were an ancient Thracian tribe that lived in the region known today as the western part of Bulgaria and eastern Serbia. They were known for their fierce warrior culture and frequent conflicts with neighboring tribes and states. The Triballi played a significant role in the early campaigns of Alexander the Great and during the Hellenistic period.

Alexander the Great's Campaign Against the Triballi

In 335 BC, shortly after ascending to the throne of Macedon, Alexander the Great embarked on a campaign to secure the northern borders of his kingdom and suppress any potential threats. The Triballi, under the leadership of their king, Syrmus, posed a significant threat to Macedonian stability. They had previously clashed with Philip II, Alexander's father, and remained a formidable force in the region.

Alexander's campaign against the Triballi was part of his broader strategy to consolidate his power and secure his kingdom's frontiers before embarking on his famous conquests in Asia. He led his forces across the Balkan Peninsula to confront the Triballi.

The Battle with the Triballi

The Triballi retreated to the mountains and fortified positions upon hearing of Alexander's approach. The decisive encounter took place near the Lyginus River, a tributary of the Danube. According to ancient sources like Arrian and Diodorus Siculus, the Triballi had fortified a position on an island in the Danube.

Alexander's forces managed to cross the river, using their superior military tactics and engineering skills to outmaneuver the Triballi. The Macedonian army was able to launch a surprise attack, leading to a significant victory. The Triballi were defeated, and their king, Syrmus, sought refuge among other Danubian tribes.

Impact of Alexander's Victory

Alexander's victory over the Triballi had several important consequences:

Securing the Northern Frontier: By defeating the Triballi, Alexander secured the northern frontier of his kingdom, allowing him to focus on his campaigns in Asia without worrying about threats from the north.
Demonstration of Military Prowess: The victory demonstrated Alexander's military prowess and solidified his reputation as a capable and formidable leader. It helped to deter other tribes and states from challenging Macedonian authority.
Influence in the Region: The defeat of the Triballi allowed Alexander to exert influence over other Thracian and Illyrian tribes. His campaign helped to stabilize the region and integrate it into the Macedonian sphere of influence.

The Triballi in the Hellenistic Period

After their defeat by Alexander, the Triballi continued to exist as a distinct group but were significantly weakened. During the Hellenistic period, they were influenced by the cultural and political changes brought about by Alexander's conquests and the subsequent fragmentation of his empire.

Interactions with Successor States: The Triballi had interactions with the various Hellenistic successor states that emerged after Alexander's death, such as the Antigonids, Seleucids, and Ptolemies. They occasionally served as mercenaries in the armies of these states.
Cultural Assimilation: The spread of Hellenistic culture, facilitated by the establishment of cities and trade networks, influenced the Triballi and other Thracian tribes. While maintaining some of their traditional customs, they adopted aspects of Greek culture and language.
Roman Conquest: In the late Hellenistic period, the Roman Republic expanded its influence into the Balkans. The Triballi, along with other Thracian tribes, eventually came under Roman control. By the 1st century BC, the Triballi had been fully integrated into the Roman Empire.

Conclusion

The Triballi played a notable role in the early military campaigns of Alexander the Great and the subsequent Hellenistic period. Their defeat by Alexander secured Macedon's northern borders and contributed to the stability necessary for Alexander's later conquests. The Hellenistic period saw the Triballi influenced by Greek culture and politics, ultimately leading to their integration into the Roman Empire. The legacy of the Triballi highlights the complex interactions between the indigenous tribes of the Balkans and the expansive forces of Macedon and Rome.

After the death of Philip, Alexander the Great passed through the lands of the Odrysians in 335-334 BC, crossed the Haemus ranges and after three encounters (Battle of Haemus, Battle at Lyginus river, Battle at Peuce Island) defeated and drove the Triballians to the junction of the Lyginus at the Danube. 3,000 Triballi were killed, the rest fled. Their king Syrmus (eponymous to Roman Sirmium) took refuge on the Danubian island of Peukê, where most of the remnants of the defeated Thracians were exiled. The successful Macedonian attacks terrorized the tribes around the Danube; the autonomous Thracian tribes sent tributes for peace, Alexander was satisfied with his operations and accepted peace because of his greater wars in Asia. They were attacked by Autariatae and Celts in 295 BC.

The punishment inflicted by Ptolemy Keraunos on the Getae, however, induced the Triballi to sue for peace. About 279 BC, a host of Gauls (Scordisci) under Cerethrius defeated the Triballi with an army of 3,000 horsemen and 15,000 foot soldiers. The defeat pushed the Triballi further to the east. Nevertheless, they continued to cause trouble to the Roman governors of Macedonia for fifty years (135 BC–84 BC). The Illyrian Dardani tribe settled in the southwest of the Triballi area in 87 BC. The Thracian place names survives the Romanization of the region.

Pliny the Elder (23-79 AD) registers them as one of the tribes of Moesia. In the time of Ptolemy (90–168 AD), their territory was limited to the district between the Ciabrus (Tzibritza) and Utus (Vit) rivers, part of what is now Bulgaria; their chief town was Oescus. Under Tiberius, mention is made of Triballia in Moesia; and the Emperor Maximinus Thrax (235–237) had been a commander of a squadron of Triballi. The name occurs for the last time during the reign of Diocletian, who dates a letter from Triballis.

According to the Anabasis of Alexander the Battle with the Triballians.

"Alexander sent the booty away southward to the cities on the seashore,27 entrusting to Lysanias and Philotas28 the duty of setting it up for sale. But he himself crossed the summit, and advancing through the Haemus into the land of the Triballians, he arrived at the river Lyginus.29 This river is distant from the Ister30 three days’ march to one intending to go to the Haemus. Syrmus, king of the Triballians, hearing of Alexander’s expedition long before, had sent the women and children of the nation on in advance to the Ister, ordering them to pass over into one of the islands in that river, the name of which was Peuce.31 To this island also the Thracians, whose territories were conterminous with those of the Triballians, had fled together for refuge at the approach of Alexander. Syrmus himself likewise, accompanied by his train, had fled for refuge to the same place. But the main body of the Triballians fled back to the river, from which Alexander had started the day before.

When he heard of their starting, he wheeled round again, and, marching against them, surprised them just 13as they were encamping. And those who were surprised drew themselves up in battle array in a woody glen along the bank of the river. Alexander drew out his phalanx into a deep column, and led it on in person. He also ordered the archers and slingers to run forward and discharge arrows and stones at the barbarians, hoping to provoke them by this to come out of the woody glen into the ground unencumbered with trees. When they were within reach of the missiles, and were struck by them, they rushed out against the archers, who were undefended by shields, with the purpose of fighting them hand-to-hand. But when Alexander had drawn them thus out of the woody glen, he ordered Philotas to take the cavalry which came from upper Macedonia, and to charge their right wing, where they had advanced furthest in their sally. He also commanded Heraclides and Sopolis32 to lead on the cavalry which came from Bottiaea33 and Amphipolis against the left wing; while he himself extended the phalanx of infantry and the rest of the horse in front of the phalanx and led them against the enemy’s centre. And indeed as long as there was only skirmishing on both sides, the Triballians did not get the worst of it; but as soon as the phalanx in dense array attacked them with vigour, and the cavalry fell upon them in various quarters, no longer merely striking them with the javelin, but pushing them with their very horses, then at length they turned and fled through the woody glen to the river. Three thousand were slain in the flight; few of them were taken prisoners, both because there was a dense wood in front of the river, and the approach of night deprived the Macedonians of certainty in their pursuit. Ptolemy says, that of the Macedonians themselves eleven horsemen and about forty foot soldiers were killed."

- Anabsis of Alexander Book I.I<