Bircenna
Bircenna | |
---|---|
Queen of Epirus | |
Tenure | c. 292 BC – c. 272 BC |
Spouse | Pyrrhus of Epirus |
Greek | Βιρκέννα |
Father | Bardylis II |
Bircenna (Ancient Greek: Βιρκέννα; ruled c. 292 – 272 BC) was an Illyrian princess and later an Epirote queen.
Bircenna was the daughter of Bardylis II of the Dardanian Kingdom.[1] Bircenna was one of the five wives of Pyrrhus of Epirus; she married him around 292 BC.[2] Pyrrhus married Bircenna for diplomatic reasons and to increase his power in southern Illyria as he was an ally of Bircenna's father. Bircenna had a son named Helenus, who at an early age accompanied his father in his ambitious campaigns conducted in the Italian peninsula.[3] Lanassa, one of the wives of Pyrrhus, left him because she claimed that he took better care of his 'barbarian' wives.[4]
See also[]
- Bardyllis
- Cleitus the Illyrian
- Bardyllis II
References[]
- ^ The Ancient Library - Bardyllis
- ^ Plut. Pyrrh. 9.
- ^ Plutarch, Parallel Lives: Pyrrhus, §9
- ^ Diodorus Siculus, Bibliotheca historica 22.8.2
Categories:
- Illyrian royalty
- Illyrian women
- 4th-century BC women rulers
- Ancient Epirote queens consort
- Pyrrhus of Epirus
- European royalty stubs