| Scerdilaidas | |
|---|---|
| Reign | 218 – 206 BC |
| Predecessor | Demetrius of Pharos |
| Successor | Pleuratus III |
| Died | 206 BC |
| Consort | Sister of Amynas |
| Father | Pleuratus II |
Scerdilaidas or Skerdilaid (Ancient Greek: Σκερδιλαΐδας; ruled 218 – 206 BC) was an Illyrian ruler of the Illyrian kingdom under the Labeatan dynasty.[1] Before taking the throne, Scerdilaidas was commander of the Illyrian armies and played a major role in the Illyrian Wars against the Romans.[2]
Scerdilaidas was one of the youngest brothers of Agron and father of Pleuratus III and grandfather of Gentius.[3] Scerdilaidas took part in many expeditions in the Ionian and Aegean with Demetrius and his brother-in-law Amynas of Athamania. During his early reign Scerdilaidas was an ally of Rome. In 217 BC Scerdilaidas later adopted Roman rule and became an enemy of Macedonia for parleying with Rome. With the Romans invested by Hannibal, Philip V of Macedon sought to take southern Illyria from Scerdilaidas and made several advancements into the Ardiaean State from 214 BC to 210 BC.
In reaction, the Aetolian League and the Dardanians under Longarus joined with Scerdilaidas to defeat the Macedonians in 208 BC. With no chance of victory, Philip V accepted peace in 205 BC. Unlike most other Illyrian kings of which there is only sparse data, Scerdilaidas is mentioned in the writings of the historian Appian, Livy and Polybius, and in their chronicles of the Roman and Greek wars.[4]