Description
The Illyrian aristocracy advocated raiding for profit, leading to widespread piracy in the Adriatic for several centuries. Over the years, the Illyrians became formidable pirates who struck fear into many a trade ship captain’s heart. Attacks by Illyrian pirates on merchant shipping eventually prompted Roman intervention in the region, and later its total absorption into their growing empire. Like many 'barbarian' peoples, the Illyrians were fearsome fighters who frequently displayed suicidal bravery. Their natural, warlike temperament, along with a fine, long-standing seafaring tradition, made them well-suited to raiding and piracy. Marines were elite melee troops highly skilled in seaborne combat, where the ability to keep upright and balanced whilst fighting hand-to-hand was paramount.
