Grabos

Who is Grabos?

Grabos was an Illyrian king of the Grabaei State. Grabos also spelt Grabus, was the most powerful Illyrian king after the death of Bardyllis in 358 BC. He was from the royal house of Grabaei although this tribe may have been incorporated into the Taulantii State realm of which Grabos became king. The Grabaei State was a minor Illyrian State located in the region of Mirdite near Lake Scutari in the northern part of modern Albania. The region is rich with copper and iron deposits, and its eartern territories marched with Philip's sphere of influence in the western lakeland.

Grabos a homonymous king, was a descendant of the previous King Grabus, with whom Athens entered into alliance when she was active in the region of Epidamnus in the 430's BC. Grabos was defeated by Philip II's forces in 358/7 BC. the king began began negotiating with Olynthus, probably offering to re-establish the Chalcydic link with the silver mines of Damastion near Lake Lynchnitis served by Philip II's recent annexation of the area. Grabos thus allied himself briefly with the Chalcidian League although this treaty was soon terminated. The unfinished state of the treaty of alliance between the two has been found at Olynthus. The unfinished state of the inscription and the fact that it had been thrown into a riverbed probably suggests that the treaty was never ratified. The Olynthians found alliance more attractive.