In 35 BC Octavian undertook operations in Illyria to punish the indigenous tribes responsible for attacks on Roman interests. Along the coastal inlets and islands to the southeast of the Istrian Peninsula, the Liburni were disrupting the Roman trade crossing the Adriatic, while inland and separated from the Liburni by the Dinaric Alps, the Iapydes had been raiding Aquileia and Tergeste (=Trieste) at the head of the Adriatic.
Moving eastwards from Aquileia, Octavian split his force two parts, sending one group northeastwards to secure the region around Emona (=Ljubljana) while he, marching with Agrippa, led the main part of his army southeastwards to the Illyria. At Senia (=Senj) on the northeast Adriatic coast, he met his fleet which had been dealing with the Liburni pirates.
Moving inland Octavian besieged the Iapydes at their hilltop stronghold of Metulus. When the legionaries finally broke through the circuit wall, they found a secondary wall behind it. Octavian’s troops built a ramp close to the wall and constructed four bridges across to the top of it. The defenders on the top of the wall repelled the assault while others worked below unseen to undermine the bridges. The bridges started to collapse and Octavian himself was injured when the last one fell. He set the troops to rebuilding the bridges and the Metuli, disheartened by the determination of the Romans, surrendered soon afterwards.
Octavian now turned his attention to the Pannonii and marched northeastwards through the territory of the Segestani to reach them. But as he approached the stronghold Siscia/ Segestica (=Sisak) at the confluence of the Sava and Kupa rivers, he was subjected to constant harassment. Octavian sent for river craft from Roman allies on the Danube and had them taken down the Sava to engage the Segestani from the two rivers as well by land. The defenders lost heart and surrendered after thirty days. Leaving a garrison there under 02Fufius Geminus (cos.02 BC) Octavian and Agrippa left for Rome before the winter could set in.
In the spring, Octavian’s forces marched to Senia and continued southwards to Dalmatia. A siege was mounted on the Dalmatian stronghold Promona and when it eventually fell Sunodium was taken shortly after. Early in the next year the Dalmatians, cut off from outside supplies, surrendered and pledged payment of arrears in tribute. Other tribes also offered submission, and the Illyrian War came to a close.
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