229 BC

229 BC was a year of the pre-Julian Roman calendar. It is notable for several key events, primarily in the context of Roman expansion and military campaigns.

Significant events during 229 BC include:

• The First Illyrian War begins: This war marked the first direct Roman military involvement in the Balkan Peninsula. Queen Teuta, the Illyrian ruler, was accused of sponsoring piracy that threatened Roman commerce. Roman armies crossed the Adriatic Sea and engaged in military operations against the Illyrians.

• Roman Conquests: Roman forces under the command of consuls Lucius Postumius Albinus and Gnaeus Fulvius Centumalus made significant territorial gains along the Illyrian coast. These conquests laid the groundwork for further Roman expansion in the region. Key cities like Apollonia and Epidamnus (modern-day Durrës) were placed under Roman protection.

• End of the Seleucid Empire's Control in Anatolia: Attalus I of Pergamon decisively defeated Seleucus III, diminishing Seleucid power in Anatolia.

The consequences of the First Illyrian War were substantial. Rome established a protectorate over certain Illyrian territories, solidifying its presence in the region and influencing the balance of power in the Adriatic Sea. This initial involvement paved the way for further Roman interventions in the Balkans and ultimately contributed to the Roman Republic's rise as a major Mediterranean power.

The year 229 BC is therefore significant as a turning point in Roman history, marking the beginning of its expansion eastward and its entanglement in the affairs of the Greek world and the Adriatic coast.