13.36. Battle of Lissus, Polybius (212 BC)

Philip advanced upon the Illyrian town of Lissus and its citadel Acrolissus. Planning to lure the garrison out of the fortifications, the king hid the most numerous and efficient part of his light infantry in certain wooded ravines over the ground between the town and the citadel during the night and the day after he marched against the town with the peltasts and the rest of the light infantry. Having been informed in advance about the approach of the Macedonians, many Illyrians from the nearby regions had flocked to Lissus. Because of the strength of its fortifications, they only left at Acrolissus a moderate garrison. When the Macedonians came near, the Illyrians sallied forth from the city having confidence in their numbers as well as the safety provided by the ground. Philip had arrayed his peltasts on level ground while ordering the light infantry to climb the hills and there engage the defenders. For some time, the battle was uncertain but then the Macedonian light infantry retreated from the difficult ground and because of the enemy numbers they started to flee towards the ranks of the peltasts. The Illyrians that had sallied from the town , in scorn of the enemy, followed them to the level ground and engaged the peltasts. The garrison of Acrolissus, seeing that the peltasts started backstepping by speirae, thought that the whole Macedonian army was now routed and hurried to the pursuit. It was then that the ambuscades charged forth and forthwith, the peltasts faced about and charged too. Upon this turn of events, the Illyrians fell in disorder and scattered towards Lissus cut off from the path to the citadel by the ambushers.