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{{Short description|Illyrian people in the western Balkans}}
{{About|the Illyrian tribe|other uses|Dalmatian (disambiguation)}}
{{History of Dalmatia}}

The '''Dalmatae''', alternatively '''Delmatae''', during the Roman period, were a group of [[Illyrian tribes]] in [[Dalmatia]], contemporary southern Croatia and western [[Bosnia and Herzegovina]]. The region of Dalmatia takes its name from the tribe.

The Delmatae appear in historical record for the first time in 181 BC, when upon the death of their ruler [[Pleuratus III]] of the Illyrian kingdom, they refused to accept the rule of his son, [[Gentius]] and seceded. They expanded and came to include coastal Illyrian tribes like the [[Tariotes]], the Hylli and the Nesti and increased their territory to the north against the [[Liburni]]. Conflict with Roman expansionism and its local allies in the eastern Adriatic began in 156–55 BC. The [[Roman–Dalmatae Wars]] lasted until 33 BC when [[Octavian]] (the later Emperor Augustus) installed Roman hegemony in Dalmatia. Local instability and minor rebellions continued in the [[Dalmatia (Roman province)|province of Dalmatia]] and culminated in the [[Great Illyrian Revolt]] in Dalmatia and closely linked [[Pannonia]] in 6 AD. The revolt, which lasted for three years, involved more than half a million combatants, auxiliaries and civilians on both side. In the aftermath, some Delmataean communities were relocated in the northern [[Sandzak]] region and others were resettled in parts of [[Carinthia]] to provide labor for the Roman mines. The defeat of the revolt began the integration of Dalmatia which in turn led to the [[romanization]] of the region by the early Middle Ages.

== Name ==
The original form of the name of the tribe is ''Delmatae'', and shares the same root with the regional name [[Dalmatia]] and the toponym [[Delminium]].{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|p=188}}<ref>{{cite book|last=Stipčević|first=Aleksandar|title=The Illyrians: History and Culture|publisher=Noyes Press|year=1977|series=History and Culture Series|page=197|isbn=0-8155-5052-9|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=NLcWAQAAIAAJ&q=Delminium,+whose+name+has+the+same+root+as+the+name+of+the+Dalmatae}}</ref>{{sfn|Šimunović|2013|p=164}} It is considered to be connected to the [[Albanian language|Albanian]] ''[[:wikt:dele#Albanian|dele]]'' and its variants which include the [[Gheg Albanian|Gheg]] form ''[[:wikt:delmë#Albanian|delmë]]'', meaning "sheep", and to the Albanian term ''delmer'', "shepherd".<ref name="Wilkes244">{{harvnb|Wilkes|1996|p=244}}</ref>{{sfn|Duridanov|2002|p=952|ps=: Δάλμιον, Δελμίνιον (Ptolemäus) zu alb. delmë}}{{sfn|Šašel Kos|1993|p=119|ps=: In the prehistoric and classical periods it was not at all unusual for peoples to have names derived from animals, such that the name of the Delmatae is considered to be related to Albanian delme, sheep|via=}}<ref name="Sch127">{{harvnb|Schütz|2006|p=127|ps=: "A dalmata/delmata illír törzs, Dalmatia/Delmatia terület, Delminium/Dalmion illír város neve, továbbá a mai Delvinë és Delvinaqi földrajzi tájegység neve az albán dele (többese delme) ‘juh’, delmer ‘juhpásztor’ szavakhoz kapcsolódik. Strabon Delmion illír város nevéhez ezt az éretelmezést fűzi „...πεδιον μελωβοτον...”, azaz „juhokat tápláló síkság”."}}</ref>{{sfn|Morić|2012|p=63|ps=:  "danas još uvijek prevladava tumačenje kako korijen njihova imena potječe od riječi koja je srodna albanskom delë, delmë odnosno „ovca“"}}<ref name="Duridanov1975">{{harvnb|Duridanov|1975|p=25}}</ref> According to [[Vladimir Orel|Orel]], the Gheg form ''delme'' hardly has anything in common with the name of ''Dalmatia'' because it represents a variant of ''[[:wikt:dele#Albanian|dele]]'' with ''*-mā'', which is ultimately from [[proto-Albanian]] ''*dailā''.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Orel|first=Vladimir|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yJQYAQAAIAAJ&q=Albanian+Etymological+Dictionary|title=Albanian Etymological Dictionary|publisher=[[Brill Publishers]]|year=1998|isbn=978-9004110243|pages=58–59|quote='''dele''' f, pl dele, dhen, dhën ‘sheep’. The Geg variant delme represents a formation in *-mā (and hardly has anything in common with the name of Dalmatia pace MEYER Wb. 63 and ÇABEJ St. I 111). The word is based on PAlb *dailā ‘sheep’ < ‘suckling’ and related to various l-derivatives from IE *dhē(i)- ‘to suckle’ (MEYER Wb. 63, Alb. St. Ill 29 operates with *dailjā < IE *dhailiā or *dhoiliā), cf., in particular, Arm dayl ‘colostrum’ < IE *dhailo-.}}</ref> Toponyms linked to the name are found throughout the territories inhabited by Illyrians including the chief settlement of the Delmatae, [[Delminium]] and ''Dalmana'' in present-day N. Macedonia.<ref name="Duridanov1975"/> The medieval Slavic toponym [[Ovče Pole]] ("plain of sheep" in South Slavic) in the nearby region represents a related later development.<ref name="Duridanov1975"/> In Albania, [[Delvinë]] represents a toponym linked to the root ''*dele''.<ref name="Sch127"/>  The form ''Dalmatae'' and the respective regional name ''Dalmatia'' are later variants as is already noted by [[Appian]] (2nd century AD). His contemporary grammarian [[Velius Longus]] highlights in his treatise about orthography that the correct form of ''Dalmatia'' is ''Delmatia'', and notes that [[Marcus Terentius Varro]] who lived about 2 centuries prior of Appian and Velius Longius, used the form ''Delmatia'' as it corresponded to the chief settlement of the tribe, [[Delminium]].{{sfn|Šašel Kos|2005|p=303}} The toponym [[Duvno]] is a derivation from Delminium in Croatian via an intermediate form ''*Delminio'' in late antiquity.{{sfn|Šimunović|2013|p=164}}

== History ==
{{See also|Illyrian Wars}}

The Delmatae appear in historical record in 181 BC. The death of [[Pleuratus III]] of the Illyrian kingdom and the succession by his son [[Gentius]] led the Delmatae to not recognize his rule and secede altogether. The [[Daorsi]], who lived to the south of the Delmatae did the same. Over the centuries, the Delmatae and Ardiaei were among the Illyrian groups which expanded their territory northwards at the expense of the [[Liburni]].  They Delmatae may have been originally pushed towards the coast because of Celtic migrations in [[Pannonia]] Strabo writes that the territory of the Delmatae was divided into an inland (present-day [[Tropolje]]) and a coastal region by the Dinaric Alps. Their capital settlement [[Delminium]] was located close to present-day [[Tomislavgrad]].{{sfn|Wilkes|1996|p=188}}

The [[first Dalmatian war]] in 156–155 BC finished with the destruction of capital [[Delminium]] by consul [[Publius Cornelius Scipio Nasica Corculum|Scipio Nasica]]. The [[second Dalmatian war]]  was fought in 119–118 BC, apparently ending in Roman victory as consul [[L. Caecilius Metellus]] celebrated triumph in 117 BC and assumed his surname [[Delmaticus]]. The [[third Dalmatian war]] 78–76 BC finished with the capture of [[Salona]] (port Solin near modern city [[Split (city)|Split]]) by the proconsul [[C. Cosconius]].{{sfn|Dzino|2010|p=68}}

[[File:Delmatae in Illyricum 40BC.png|thumb|left|Delmatae in Illyricum, {{circa}} 40 BC.]]
During the Roman Civil War of 49–44 BC, the Delmatae supported [[Pompey]] against the coastal Roman colonies which supported Caesar and continuously fought against the Caesarian generals [[Aulus Gabinius|Gabinius]] and [[Publius Vatinius|Vatinius]]. After Pompey's defeat they continued to fight against Roman legions in Dalmatia.<ref name="Wilkes196">{{harvnb|Wilkes|1996|p=196}}</ref> The fourth and final conflict occurred 34–33 BC during Octavian's expedition to [[Illyricum (Roman province)|Illyricum]] because of their iterative revolts, and finished with the capture of the new Delmatian capital- [[Soetovio]] (now [[Klis]]). The last revolts of Delmatae under their federal leader [[Bato the Daesitiate|Bato]], against Romans were in 12 BC and the [[Great Illyrian Revolt]] in 6–9 AD; both also failed and finished by a terminal pacification of bellicose Delmatae.
{{clear}}

==Cohors Delmatarum==
[[File:CILIII1979Salona.jpg|right|thumb|The Inscription of the Coh(ors) I (milliaria) Del(matarum) in [[Salona]].]]
In [[Roman Empire|Roman Imperial times]] the Dalmatae formed numerous [[Roman auxiliaries]]:
* [[Cohors I Delmatarum]]
* [[Cohors I Delmatarum milliaria equitata]]
* [[Cohors II Delmatarum]]
* [[Cohors III Delmatarum equitata c.R. pf]]
* [[Cohors IV Delmatarum]]
* [[Cohors V Delmatarum]]
* [[Cohors V Delmatarum c.R.]]
* [[Cohors VI Delmatarum equitata]]
* [[Cohors VII Delmatarum equitata]]
* And later the [[Equites Dalmatae]]

== Culture ==

Archaeology and onomastic shows that the Delmatae were akin to eastern Illyrians and northern [[Pannonii]].<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1996, {{ISBN|0-631-19807-5}}, p. 70, "... on Pannonia (1959) and Moesia Superior (1970). Duje Rendic-Miocevic has published several studies of names from the territory of the Delmatae, ..."</ref> The tribe was subject to [[Celts|Celtic]] influences.<ref>The Oxford Classical Dictionary by Simon Hornblower and Antony Spawforth, 2003, p. 426.</ref><ref>A dictionary of the Roman Empire Oxford paperback reference, {{ISBN|0195102339}}, 1995, p. 202, "contact with the peoples of the Illyrian kingdom and at the Celticized tribes of the Delmatae ..."</ref> One of the Dalmatian tribes was called [[Baridustae]]<ref>Roman Dacia: the making of a provincial society by W. S. Hanson, Ian Haynes, 2004, p. 22, "Outside the main urban centres, the best attested group of civilian immigrants is members of the Dalmatian tribes such as the Baridustae"</ref> that later was settled in Roman Dacia. [[Pliny the Elder]] also mentioned the [[Tariotes]], and their territory Tariota, which was described as an ancient region. The Tariotes are considered part of the Delmatae.<ref>{{harvnb|Miletić|2008a|p=7}}</ref><ref>{{harvnb|Catani|2008|p=77}}</ref>

The archeological remnants suggest their material culture was more primitive than those of the surrounding ancient tribes, especially in comparison with the oldest [[Liburnians]]. Only their production of weapons was rather advanced. Their elite had stone built houses only, but numerous Delmatic herdmen yet settled in natural caves, and a characteristic detail in their usual clothing was the fur cap.

Their nomadic society had a strong patriarchal structure, consisting chiefly of shepherds, warriors and their chieftains. Their main jobs had been the extensive cattle breeding, and the iterative plundering of other surrounding tribes and of coastal towns on the Adriatic.

=== Religion ===
{{See also|Illyrian religion}}

The major collective deity of the Delmatic federation was their pastoral god 'Sylvanus' they called Vidasus.<ref>The Illyrians by J. J. Wilkes, 1996, {{ISBN|0-631-19807-5}}, p. 247, "... Death among Illyrians 247 identities of Silvanus and Diana, a familiar combination on many dedications in the territory of the Delmatae. Sometimes the name of a local deity is recorded only in the Latin form, for example, ..."</ref> His divine wife was 'Thana',<ref>Wilkes. "North of the Japodes, the altars to Vidasus and Thana dedicated at the hot springs of Topusko reveal the local Roman Illyrians..."</ref> a Delmatic goddess mostly comparable with Roman Diana and Greek Artemis. Their frequent reliefs often accompanied by nymphs, are partly conserved up today in some cliffs of Dalmatia; in Imotski valley also their temple used from 4th to 1st century BC, was unearthed. The third important one of Delmatae was a war god '[[Armatus]]' comparable with Roman Mars and Greek Ares. Their bad deity was the celestial Dragon{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} devouring the sun or moon in the eclipses.

A strong weapons cult was very specific for the patriarchal Delmatae, and in their masculine tombs different weapons are widely present (that is rare in neighbouring peoples e.g. Liburni, Iapydes, etc.). Their usual tombs were under the stone tumuli of [[kurgan]] type. After the classic Roman reports (Muzic 1998), nomadic Delmatae were extremely superstitious, and they had a primitive panic dread{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}} from all celestial phenomena: any view on the night stars was for them forbidden in the fear of a sure death, and in the case of solar or lunar eclipses they repeated tremendous collective howling because of the immediate world ending, made hysterical suicides etc.

== See also ==
*[[List of ancient Illyrian peoples and tribes]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
{{refbegin|30em|indent=yes}}
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*{{cite journal|last=Catani|first=Lorenzo|title=Arheološko-povijesne bilješke o Castellum Tariona u rimsko doba|trans-title=Archaeological and historical notes on the Castellum Tariona in the Roman Era|journal=Vjesnik Za Arheologiju I Povijest Dalmatinsku|volume=101|number=1|year=2008|place=Split|pages=75–86|url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/31103|language=hr, en}}
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*{{cite book |last1=Dzino |first1=Danijel |title=Illyricum in Roman Politics, 229 BC–AD 68 |date=2010 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0521194198 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7vvjB_DKQNIC}}
*{{cite book |last1=Duridanov |first1=Ivan |editor1-last=Bister |editor1-first=Feliks J. |editor2-last=Gramshammer-Hohl |editor2-first=Dagmar |editor3-last=Heynoldt |editor3-first=Anke |title=Lexikon der Sprachen des europäischen Ostens |date=2002 |publisher=Wieser Verlag |isbn=978-3-85129-510-8 |url=https://eeo.aau.at/wwwg.uni-klu.ac.at/eeo/Illyrisch.pdf |chapter=Illyrisch}}
*{{cite book |last1=Duridanov |first1=Ivan |title=Die Hydronymie des Vardarsystems als Geschichtsquelle |date=1975 |publisher=Böhlau Verlag |isbn=3412839736 |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/12037585.pdf}}
<!-- M -->
*{{cite journal|last=Miletić|first=Alen|title=Saltus Tariotarum|journal=Opvscvla Archaeologica|volume=32|number=1|year=2008a|pages=7–20|url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/37059|language=hr, en}}
*{{cite journal |last1=Morić |first1=Ivana |title=Običaji Delmata |journal=Rostra |publisher=University of Zadar |date=2012 |volume=5 |issue=5 |url=https://hrcak.srce.hr/169386}}
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*{{cite journal|last=Šašel Kos|first=Marjeta|title=Cadmus and Harmonia in Illyria|journal=Arheološki Vestnik |url=https://www.academia.edu/489633|volume=44|year=1993|pages=113–136}}
*{{cite book |last1=Šašel Kos |first1=Marjeta |title=Appian and Illyricum |date=2005 |publisher=Narodni muzej Slovenije |isbn=961616936X |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=opBpAAAAMAAJ}}
*{{cite book|last=Schütz|first=István|title=Fehér foltok a Balkánon|place=Budapest|publisher=Balassi Kiadó|year=2006|orig-year=2002|isbn=9635064721|language=hu}}
*{{cite journal|last1=Šimunović|first1=Petar|url=http://hrcak.srce.hr/118625|title=Predantički toponimi u današnjoj (i povijesnoj) Hrvatskoj [Pre-Roman placenames in present-day (and historical) Croatia] |journal=Folia onomastica Croatica|issue=22|date=2013|pages=147–214 }}
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*{{cite web |last1=Wilkes |first1=John |title=Studies in the roman province of Dalmatia |url=https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/19898871.pdf |publisher=Durham University |date=1962}}
*{{cite book|last=Wilkes|first=John|title=The Illyrians|year=1996|publisher=Wiley|isbn=978-0631146711|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=l8q0QgAACAAJ&q=Wilkes%20the%20illyrians}}

{{ref end}}

{{Illyrians}}

[[Category:Illyrian tribes]]
[[Category:Illyrian Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Illyrian Croatia]]
[[Category:Ancient tribes in Bosnia and Herzegovina]]
[[Category:Ancient tribes in Croatia]]
[[Category:Tribes conquered by Rome]]
[[Category:Tribes conquered by the Roman Republic]]
[[Category:History of Dalmatia]]