I’m currently editing my next historical fiction novel—been doing so for some time now, it seems—but it suddenly occurred to me how much the political situation surrounding my story reflects much more modern phenomena. My next story takes place in the context of the 2nd Punic War between the Roman Republic and Carthage, yet this episode happens in what would have been considered a side theater. To be precise its set along the coast of what was then called Illyria.
Now, let me step away from that for a second to highlight the phenomenon I’m talking about; the one referenced in the title. Occasionally throughout history—both ancient and modern—one nation finds itself sandwiched between two growing powers. Often enough, those two states on the make seem to be on a collision course, leaving the in-between nation or people in a tough geo-political quandary. Namely, which side to support? Or, if it’s too difficult to choose one or the other, can they somehow stay out of the coming conflagration altogether?
Many peoples, states, and nations throughout history have found themselves in that very situation, and from the reading you can tell it causes no small amount of angst for decision-makers. Successive Korean kingdoms have found themselves in the middle of Chinese, Japanese, Mongol, and Manchu military growth spurts and were forced to deal with each in turn. Ultimately this resulted in Korea’s current division, north and south, as a result of a proxy war between larger but antagonistic democratic and communist states.
Poland has found itself between aggressive German kingdoms and states to the west, the mammoth Russian state to the east, the Swedes to the north, and at one time, a very powerful Austro-Hungarian Empire to the south. As with many states and cultures who’ve found themselves in just such a predicament, it’s a wonder the Polish language and way of life survived that meat grinder at all!
And, of course, Afghanistan, which found itself at one point in a tug-of-war between British interests in India and a surging Russian Empire. They were stuck between the Soviet Union and the United States, and later, various terrorist groups. And now, turning a new page in history, they only have to worry about neighboring China, Iran, and Pakistan, all of which add pressure to Afghanistan’s attempt to eke out a meager existence in a really tough neighborhood.
Like these more modern examples, Illyria in 215 B.C. was not a strong state. It wasn’t much of a state at all, truth be told. A royal line technically ruled over a large number of semi-independent tribes that populated modern Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, and parts of Serbia and Albania. Thus the king seems to have had little real coercive power over his nominal constituent tribes, though if enough of the tribesmen were roused to action, Illyrian forces could grow both large and dangerous.
Yet this hodge-podge collection of tribes found itself stuck between the fading power of the Greek states to the south, the resurgent power of Macedonia, which historical podcaster Dan Carlin called the “Heavyweight Champions” of the time following Alexander the Great’s tour d’ force, and the growing power of the Roman Republic. This was, politically, a tough place to be, but the situation remained relatively stable until the 2nd Punic War began with Hannibal’s invasion of Italy.
Sure, there’d been a few tiffs, namely the 1st Illyrian War with Rome in 229, and the 2nd Illyrian War with Rome in 220—neither of which lasted very long—but the relationship with Rome remained relatively cordial. The Romans weren’t quite ready to fight in the hinterlands of Illyria, and, of course, the Illyrians weren’t going to be able to mount an invasion of Italy. Thus, with the conclusion of the second short conflict in 219, the Illyrian king became an ally to the Roman Republic and they all lived happily ever after.
Well … not so much. Macedonia, to Illyria’s east—perennial enemy of the tribes living along the border region—was always resentful of what they saw as Roman interference into their sphere of influence. Yet the power of Rome made clear the folly of engaging the legions directly, leaving Macedonia without a real avenue to challenge the rising Italian power. Thus, as in centuries past, the Macedonians for a long time satisfied themselves with raids and limited military incursions against individual, if still troublesome, Illyrian tribes on the border.
Hannibal’s crossing of the Alps and subsequent destruction of not one but two Roman armies changed all that! Suddenly, Rome was preoccupied with matters at home. Horribly preoccupied, it seemed, after taking some 70,000 casualties at the Battle of Cannae in 216. Finally, King Phillip V of Macedonia saw an opening, a chance to regain his kingdom’s influence along the Adriatic. This led to preparations for sea and land invasions of Illyrian territory, intent to take those lands previously ceded to the Romans, cities like Epidamnos and Pharos.
Yet for all its preoccupation with Hannibal’s army, the Roman Navy seems to have been left a bit out of the fight. Sure, they maintained absolute control of the sea between Carthage and Sicily, to say nothing of Italy itself, but otherwise, the navy was left without much to contribute toward Rome’s on-going effort to remove Hannibal from Southern Italy. Thus Phillip, in choosing to place most of his eggs in a maritime basket, essentially sought to take advantage of Rome’s predicament in the only way in which the republic would be able to adequately respond. Subsequently, the Roman fleet prepared to sail east.
What followed, in 214, was Rome’s first war with Macedonia. It lasted for nine years but inaugurated a series of four conflicts between the two powers which ended in the destruction and absorption of the independent Kingdom of Macedonia in 148. But all this regional conflict would have dire consequences for Illyria as well. The kingdom switched its allegiance to Macedonia in 168, leading to the 3rd Illyrian War with Rome later that year, spelling an end to the Ardiaei royal lineage and loss of control of the Illyrian coast to Rome.
It would take over a hundred years of campaigning to subdue the inland Illyrian tribes, but in 27 B.C., Illyria became the Roman Province of Illyricum, split some ninety years later into the Provinces of Dalmatia and Pannonia. Throughout its history few provinces would cause Rome so much trouble as these, yet for all their defiance, the Illyrians had forever lost their homeland.
It’s into this crazy world that I gleefully drop Fulvius and his band of legionary misfits, fresh from the criminal activities and enterprise featured in “Q.Fulvius: Debt of Dishonor”. The book’s still on track for a January release and I think you’ll like it.
In the meantime, I hope you’ll spare a thought or two for those unfortunate nations and peoples who’ve found themselves in such unenviable situations as these. It’s tough enough to run a country, to feed, protect, and serve a population with varying needs, wants, and desires, but to do so while balancing the intentions of two sparring neighbors must be a herculean task. These governments really do find themselves between a rock and a hard place, and it’s hard not to feel for them and the choices they were forced to make
M. G. Haynes