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| Gent, the last King of Illyria |
King Gent of the Illyrian Ardian tribe is undoubtedly one of the most prominent figures in ancient history. Known for his pragmatism, innovations, and his passion for biology, he holds a special place in the pages of history. He was the last Illyrian king.
His traces vanish in the year 168 BC when Shkodra fell. If we delve into the annals of history, we find numerous speculations.
Some historians claim that he disappeared, was killed, or escaped. Until a few years ago, there was no information about the fate of the Illyrian sovereign. After the year 2000, Albanian emigrants in Italy were the ones who followed in the footsteps of King Gent.
His tomb is located in Italy, in the province of Gubbio, Perugia, in the Umbria region.
Who was the last Illyrian king?
King Gent was the ruler of the Ardian tribe with Shkodra as its capital. He ruled from around 192 BC to 168 BC.
He was the son of King Pleuratus and was married to Etleva, the daughter of King Mylon of the Dardanians.
Reign and Life of Gent
Gent came to power in 181 BC. From the very beginning of his reign, he faced opposition from Roman politics, which treated him with great severity.
He was accused of inciting the resurgence of piracy among the Illyrians, and on this pretext, the Roman Senate appointed a special fleet of 10 ships in 178 BC to operate in the Adriatic to safeguard the waters between Ancona and Taranto.
Rome incited the Dalmatians against him, leading them to secede from the kingdom. King Gent had to wage a fierce battle against the high aristocracy, which had pro-Roman tendencies and enjoyed extensive support, even within the royal court.
Gent did not stop at anything in this conflict, even sacrificing his own brother Plator to secure the Roman support he sought. Gent devoted all his attention to the economic and political strengthening of his kingdom. This is best evidenced by his active coin minting activities.
King Gent can be considered a true reformer in the field of coinage during his time. This allowed him to concentrate significant financial resources in his hands. Undeniable proof of this is the content of the royal treasury captured by the Romans.
The denomination of coins was primarily dictated by the international situation. As the Roman threat became more apparent, Gent had to increase his efforts to strengthen the army and the navy.
Elements of state organization that had sporadically appeared during the reign of Agron or his successors were fully developed and clarified during Gent's reign.
During Gent's time, the Illyrian Kingdom covered a vast territory and represented the second power after Macedonia in the western and southern parts of the Balkan Peninsula.
Gent held the title "King of the Illyrians" and ruled like a Roman king, and there are no sources that indicate any other limiting authority during his rule.
Complicated Relations with Rome
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| Gent, the last king of Illyria |
Gent had to establish good relations with neighboring Balkan nations due to his complicated relationship with Rome. From the beginning, he managed to establish friendly ties with his eastern neighbor, the Dardanian Kingdom. The cornerstone of Illyria's foreign policy at that time was friendly relations with Macedonia.
When the conflict between Rome, Illyria, and Macedonia reached its peak, the Illyrian king chose to go to war against Rome as the only way to defend political independence. His decision was welcomed with enthusiasm in other parts of the Balkans because it raised hopes of victory over the Romans.
After several battles, the end of his reign is associated with the Third Illyrian-Roman War when the Illyrians suffered defeat. In 168 BC, he surrendered to the Roman legions that occupied Shkodra.
Understanding that he could no longer defend the territories, Gent agreed to be sent into captivity in Rome with his family, on the condition that the population would not be persecuted or killed.
Simultaneously with Illyria and Macedonia, the Romans subjugated Epirus. Gent and his family were sent to Rome. Thus, two powerful states in the Balkans were established, and Roman rule was established in these regions.
Historians claim that the Illyrian king was sent as a captive to Rome and was held prisoner. According to another, less reliable version, he was sent to the Roman Empire, where he was given estates and wealth in exchange for abdicating the Ardian throne.
In any case, his mausoleum has the characteristics of an aristocratic burial site and is located in the necropolis of Gubbio, a fairly developed area at that time.
This fact suggests that the Romans honored Gent of Illyria after his death, although he was a foreigner.
Gent's Passions
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| The genus name "Gentiana" was attributed to Gentius in recognition of his potential role in recognizing the tonic qualities of Gentiana lutea. This was a way to honor him for his contributions to understanding the properties of the plant. |
King Gent is also mentioned in history for his passion for biology. It is said that he used to hike in the mountains and forests of his kingdom, collecting medicinal and curative plants. Even today, a plant bears his name, "gentiana."
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| Coin of Gent |
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In Illyrian kingdoms, Gent is believed to have been among the first to introduce bronze coins with his symbol, his head, into circulation.
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| The image of Gent is featured on the 2,000 lekë banknotes |
In Albania, money is printed with the head of the Illyrian king, Gent.