Teuta, Queen of the Seas

Teuta was queen of the Illyrians of the Ardiaean tribe, widow of King Agron, and ruled for several years at the end of the 3rd century BCE (230–227). After Agron’s death, she assumed the leadership of the Illyrian state as regent for Agron’s young son, Pinnes, from his marriage to Triteuta (Polyb. Historiai, II). During her reign, Teuta openly challenged the growing power of the Roman Republic, supporting maritime expeditions and acts of piracy that led to the first military clash between Illyria and Rome — the First Illyrian–Roman War.