Dalmatia
（
Δαλματία) or
Delmatia. A part of the
country along the eastern coast of the Adriatic Sea, included under the general name of
Illyricum, and separated from Liburnia on the north by the Titius (Kerka), and from Greek
Illyria on the south by the Drilo (Drino), thus nearly corresponding to the modern Dalmatia.
The capital was Dalminium or Delminium, from which the country derived its name. The next most
important town was Salona, the residence of Diocletian. The Dalmatians were a brave and
warlike people and gave much trouble to the Romans. In B.C. 119, their country was overrun by
L. Metellus, who assumed, in consequence, the surname Dalmaticus, but they continued
independent of the Romans. In B.C. 39, they were defeated by Asinius Pollio, of whose Dalmatic
triumph Horace speaks; but it was not till the year 23 that they were finally subdued by
Statilius Taurus. They took part in the great Pannonian revolt under their leader Bato ; but
after a three years' war were again reduced to subjection by Tiberius, in A.D. 9.
